We see a lot of animal rescue stories here at LittleThings. It's inspiring to read such incredible stories about humans taking time and energy to reach out and help our four-legged friends who may not be able to help themselves, but sometime these furry (or scaly, or feathery) creatures can rescue us just as much we rescue them.
Ask anyone who has had experience with a therapy animal and they'll gladly tell you just how helpful critters can be.
A Russian cat recently proved just how much animals can go out of their way to protect us.
This homeless, long-haired feline has no owner, but the local residents on her block affectionately call her Masha. Masha has always been friendly to the humans in the neighborhood (especially when they feed her), but she really showed her true soul when she spent the night in sub-zero temperatures next to a cold, sick baby boy abandoned in a box on the side of the road.
Masha stayed with the child to keep him warm, and she meowed loudly until another human could find the child.
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Neighborhood resident Irina Lavrova, 68, was the one who discovered the cat with the baby. She was taking out the trash when she heard the cat meowing loudly. She went to check on Masha and was shocked to see the cat next to a newborn infant.
She told her local news station, "She is very placid and friendly, so when I heard her mewing I thought that perhaps she had injured herself, because normally she would have come and said hello to me."
Masha had clearly been next to this child for hours. The only thing keeping the baby alive in the sub-zero temperatures was Masha's body heat.
The orphaned boy was rushed to the hospital, where doctors credit Masha for keeping him safe and warm.
When an ambulance came to pick up the baby, Masha tried to follow — she didn't want to leave him alone. The neighbors report that Masha waited in the same spot for hours, hoping that the baby or the ambulance would return soon. This courageous, sweet cat didn't want to rest until she knew the baby was safe.
The child's health continues to improve and police are investigating the matter. Thanks to Masha, this child's story has received massive amounts of attention. The doctors at the hospital say that he's being flooded with well-wishes, gifts, and even parties potentially interested in adopting him.
As for Masha, she's being treated like a local hero. Neighbors see her and give her extra treats and scraps. They make sure to offer her a warm place to stay and continue to watch out for Masha just as Masha watched out for this child.
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