When it comes to identifying who will have your back in a sticky situation, friends, romantic partners, and family are usually the first people that come to mind. Unfortunately, examples in history where your close circle does not come in clutch or even actually end up doing the backstabbing are in fact anything but rare. One organism, though, has seemingly managed to consensually earn themselves the reputation of man’s best friend, as from ancient civilizations all the way to modern times, they have displayed unwavering levels of loyalty and strong protective instincts. If you still haven’t figured it out, we’re talking about our favorite canine companions, dogs, and a recent story from Lebanon only seems to confirm this claim.
Last week, in Tripoli, North Lebanon, a newborn baby was rescued by a street dog who found the abandoned infant inside of a plastic rubbish bag and went on to carry them through the streets of Lebanon in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Local media stated that a passer-by was alerted after hearing stifled cries, which he identified were coming from the garbage bag the dog was transporting. After recovering the bag, the unidentified person found a child inside, covered in bruises. The infant was rushed to the emergency center of the Islamic Charity Hospital before being transported to the Tripoli Governmental Hospital after security services and judicial authorities were informed.
No precise information has transpired as to when exactly the baby was abandoned nor has their exact age been deciphered yet. According to reports online, the newborn could either be anywhere between a few hours and four-months-old. The baby’s condition was described as “serious although stable” and far from life-threatening. Local authorities and medical professionals are working diligently to care for the child and determine the circumstances of the abandonment.
Lebanese journalist Ghassan Rifi, wrote extensively about the event, questioning the intentions of the parent who abandoned the baby, and wondering whether “the ‘wild lady’ who threw the child and fled to an unknown destination had intended to throw her in the area so that the dogs would finish her off and eat her corpse or to draw attention to her.”
He wrote, “But in all cases, the dog that dragged her was more humane in the face of the brutality and criminality of the one who threw her.”
In the wake of the distressing event, there has been an outpour of support from the community, with many individuals expressing their willingness to provide assistance, either through fostering or adoption, ensuring that the baby will adamantly find a loving and secure home once they are ready to leave the hospital.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with information about the baby’s abandonment to come forward, while online, the miraculous story has prompted discussions and reflections on the need for improved resources and healthcare for struggling parents and vulnerable infants to prevent such tragic situations from happening in the future.
