Kind-Hearted Girl Rescues Stray Dog While Returning Home From School

“It all happened so quickly. It was very emotional."

Damjan

• Published in Animal Stories
• July 18, 2023

There's something truly uplifting about seeing the younger generation display kindness and compassion towards animals. This story of a girl's caring actions towards a stray dog is one that warms the heart and reaffirms faith in humanity.

This heartening episode was fortuitously captured on camera by a bystander who found herself at the right place at the right time. Mayane Rodrigues, while gazing out from her apartment window in Brazil on a rainy day, happened upon a scene that melted her heart.

She initially noticed a young girl walking home from school across the street, her small form protected from the rain by an umbrella. Unexpectedly, the girl paused in her journey, carefully placing her umbrella down on the wet pavement. She then removed her backpack and took off her jacket.

Rodrigues couldn't help but wonder what prompted the girl to do this, especially in the midst of the pouring rain. What she discovered next explained the girl's actions and left an indelible mark on her heart.

“It all happened so quickly. It was very emotional,” the woman said. “I sent the video to a friend who, shared it to a neighborhood group, and then I found out who the angel was.”

“It all happened so quickly. It was very emotional."

It quickly became apparent that the girl's altruistic actions were in aid of this helpless little creature

Rodrigues noticed a tiny puppy by the side of the road, right next to where the girl had stopped. It quickly became apparent that the girl's altruistic actions were in aid of this helpless little creature. She had picked up the small puppy and was cradling it lovingly in her arms, providing it warmth and safety as she continued her walk home.

Mayane managed to capture this heartening moment with her camera. As if echoing the beauty of the act, the image quickly caught the attention of the online community and became a viral sensation.

The kind-hearted girl was later identified as Cibley Stiegelmair, a 12-year-old who truly embodied the saying that heroes come in all sizes.

Despite her tender age, Cibley demonstrated an understanding of kindness that belies her years, showing us all that no one is too small to make a difference.

As the story unfolded, it was revealed that the puppy Cibley had rescued was injured. Undeterred by the challenge, Cibley took the little creature home and provided it with the care and attention it needed to heal.

“I was startled when she arrived with the puppy because she was very sweaty and wet from the rain,” Rejane Stiegelmair, the Cibley’s mother, says. “I thought she had been hurt, but she told me she found the puppy injured. My daughter has a very good heart. She feels very sorry for stray dogs.”

The rescued puppy, now fondly known as Pretinha, sustained only minor injuries. With some extra affection and care, Pretinha made a successful recovery.

Cibley's innate compassion towards animals has always been evident, and her recent actions have made her parents prouder than ever.

While the circumstances that led Pretinha to be stranded by the roadside remain unclear, her current situation is decidedly more promising. Cibley's family decided to adopt Pretinha, providing a safe and loving home for the once-stray puppy.

Today, Pretinha is living a contented life with the young rescuer who generously offered her a second chance at happiness.

Damjan