Dogs have always been loyal protectors. Sometimes, they help others without even knowing it. This was especially true for Asha the Golden Retriever who lives in Australia.
On a cold morning she came home with an unusual hitchhiker that was in need of some care. There, on her back, was a baby koala that she had likely saved from a cold, lonely night.
Asha’s parents said that it was very early in the morning when Asha came inside with her new friend. Her dad was in shock when he saw the furry creature, so he immediately told his wife, Kerry McKinnon, to come take a look.
A Surprise Visitor
When McKinnon came downstairs to see what was going on, she was caught completely off-guard. The last thing she had expected to see that early in the morning was a tiny koala clinging to her dog, especially inside their own home.
“I just burst out laughing. Poor Asha didn’t know what to think! She just kept looking at me with such a confused look,” McKinnon said. “She looked a bit guilty when I came out to see what was going on. Her expression was hilarious.”
McKinnon is unsure how the little koala ended up on Asha’s back. It’s likely that he fell out of his tree and didn’t know what to do without his mom. So, he turned to a trustworthy dog with warm fur.
The weather in their area can get down to 41 degrees Fahrenheit at night, which is too cold for a baby koala to handle. In Asha’s fur, he was able to stay nice and toasty, but if she hadn’t been there, he might not have survived.
Not only would the joey have been cold, but he also could’ve been snatched up by a wild animal. So, Asha saved a little koala’s life simply by allowing him to ride among her warm coat.
Caring for the Koala
McKinnon knew that she had to take the koala to a safe place where he could heal. However, the koala didn’t want to leave his new friend.
“When we took the koala off to wrap it in a blanket, it hissed at me and carried on,” said McKinnon. “I think it would have been happy to have just slept there all day.”
A vet took a look at the baby koala, and luckily, the koala appeared to be completely healthy. He was then taken to a nearby koala caretaker who looked after him until he was ready to be released into the wild again.
Asha’s story was shared all over the internet even long after the event happened. The sweet dog will forever be considered a hero for her little act of kindness. We should always be kind to animals the way that Asha was helpful to this koala in need.
The Australian bushfires have caused the loss of an enormous portion of the koala population and affected several other species. Consider donating to help relief efforts:
- Adopt a koala through the Koala Hospital. Your adoption will help fund rescue and treament efforts for koalas affected by the disaster.
- Donate to WIRES Wildlife Rescue’s Emergency Fund to help them rescue as many of Australia’s animals as they can.
- Join iHeartDogs in raising money for relief efforts through GreaterGood.org by clicking through to the Facebook post below:
https://www.facebook.com/iHeartDogscom/posts/10159678401093079?__tn__=-R
H/T: boredpanda.com
Featured Image: Network_FOR Facebook
Toledo, United States.
