A 5-year-old pitbull saved the life of a tiny chihuahua puppy after the pup accidentally fell into a swimming pool in Brazil.
Home security footage captured the incident and rescue on video at the property in Jardinópolis, São Paulo, Brazil, which was widely shared on social media platforms.
In the video, you can see several dogs on a deck by a pool when 3-month-old Puma accidentally steps too close to the edge and falls in. The struggling pup tries to climb out but the ledge is too steep.
Thankfully, it only takes a few moments for Athena the pittie to hear some commotion and come running down the stairs. As soon as she spots little Puma in the water, she works on getting her out – even getting into the pool herself to rescue the pup!
After a few moments, the dog’s owner comes out and praises Athena with a little pat.
According to the New York Post, the dogs’ owner said Athena “often keeps watch from her special spot on the pool deck.”
There’s a reason pit bulls are sometimes referred to as “nanny dogs.” They sometimes have a naturally nurturing and protective nature that makes them apt to care for others.
Check out the video below:
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
