In January 2025, surveillance cameras in Istanbul’s Beylikdüzü neighborhood captured heart-wrenching footage of a stray dog carrying a puppy in its mouth and bringing it to the entrance of a nearby veterinary clinic. The veterinarian who opened the door found the puppy unresponsive and rushed it inside, followed closely by the mother dog.

The dog was suffering from a dangerously slow heartbeat due to the frigid temperatures outside, but the veterinarians quickly provided emergency care. Throughout the procedure, the mother dog stayed by her puppy’s side. Their prompt action and care allowed the puppy to survive, and it is now receiving care at the clinic alongside its mother.

It was later discovered that this puppy was related to another that had been brought in earlier by animal lovers who thought it was the sole survivor of its litter. This led to an unexpected and touching family reunion.

“We thought they were all dead,” said Baturalp Oğhan, a veterinarian and clinic owner, during an interview. “When our technician noticed the situation, he brought it in. We saw the puppy’s heart was beating. We placed it in intensive care. It is now receiving treatment alongside its sibling.”

This mother dog managed to save one of her puppies and reunite with another, despite the rest of the litter not surviving.

According to the World Population Review, 30% of all households worldwide have a pet dog, with 90 million pet dogs in the United States alone. This figure only includes dogs that humans house and care for. Consider how many dogs, like that mother dog, are still alive today, and how many, like that fortunate puppy, did not make it.

While it is admirable that this mother dog brought her pup to the clinic, whether out of memory, instinct, desperation, or a combination of these traits, the responsibility cannot rest solely on dogs to seek the help and treatment they need. Fortunately, various animal shelters and clinics are available to assist these animals, but they first need to find a way to reach them. Not all dogs have resourceful mothers who can lead them to a capable veterinarian.

If you wish to help a stray animal, such as a dog or a cat, there are certain steps you can take to prepare for the situation. The Humane Society offers valuable advice, including keeping fresh water, bowls, pet food, thick blankets, and other supplies in your car to ensure the animal’s comfort while you wait for animal control to arrive or if you decide to take them to a local shelter yourself. Before gathering supplies, check for any state or municipal regulations regarding the handling of lost or stray animals to ensure you are compliant with the law.

We share our lives with “man’s best friend,” and the least we can do is be their greatest ally, especially when they are in need