In the chilly December days, Junrell Fuentes Revilla found himself on a motorcycle journey through the mountainous terrains near Cebu in the Philippines. His journey took an unexpected turn when a dog began to relentlessly chase after him.

The dog seemed desperate for Revilla’s attention, barking incessantly. Sensing an urgent message in the dog’s fervent barks, Revilla halted his motorcycle and moved closer to the canine.

To Revilla’s surprise, the dog guided him to a trash dump and proceeded towards a twitching pile at its base. “Revilla was astounded to find an infant swaddled in a brown towel,” revealed Gea Ybarita, an employee at Hope for Strays, in an interview with The Dodo. “The baby was found in a secluded area on top of the mountain.”

Instantly, Revilla held the infant close and rushed the child to the nearest police station. Here, the Department of Welfare promptly intervened. The baby was found in the nick of time and appeared to be in relatively good health, all thanks to the dog’s keen instincts.

Upon hearing about the heroics of the stray dog, volunteers from Hope for Strays quickly embarked on a mission to find the insightful pup in the mountains. Instead, they encountered a man who claimed to be the owner of the dog, named Blacky.

“The man led us to his home and, much to our surprise, we found Blacky there with three other dogs,” Ybarita reported. “We verified that Blacky was indeed not a stray.” The relief that Blacky was in a loving home was immense, but it was clear that both the dog and his family were in need of assistance. “[Blacky’s owner] conveyed, ‘Despite the hardships of life and my economic constraints, I ensure all my dogs are well-fed and cared for,’” Ybarita added.

The courageous act of Blacky has since led to a wave of support from the community, with people generously donating food, pet supplies, and more. Unbeknownst to Blacky, he has managed to change the fortunes of his family, himself, and one incredibly fortunate child.