Winter had blanketed Andrew’s back garden with a soft layer of snow, but his loyal dog Duke, a huge German Shepherd, was acting strangely. Instead of curling up in the large kennel Andrew had lovingly built for him last summer, Duke insisted on sleeping outside, directly in the snow. Watching from the window, Andrew felt a tightness in his chest—Duke had never behaved like this before. Each morning, when Andrew went outside, Duke would look at him with tense eyes. The moment Andrew approached the kennel, Duke would plant himself firmly between Andrew and the entrance, growling softly and gazing at him imploringly, as if to say, “Please, don’t go in there.” This behaviour, so out of character after years of friendship, made Andrew wonder—what was his best friend hiding? Determined to uncover the truth, Andrew came up with a plan—he lured Duke into the kitchen with a tempting bit of steak. While the dog, shut inside, barked furiously at the window, Andrew crept out to the kennel and crouched down to peer inside. His heart skipped a beat as his eyes adjusted to the darkness and he saw something that froze him in place… …Inside, wrapped in a blanket, was a tiny kitten—dirty, frozen, and barely breathing. Its eyes struggled to open, its little body shivering with cold. Duke had found it somewhere and, instead of chasing it off or leaving it, sheltered it. He’d been sleeping in the snow so as not to frighten the kitten, standing watch at the entrance like a sentry guarding a precious treasure. Andrew held his breath. He reached in, gently scooped up the tiny creature, and pressed it to his chest. In that instant, Duke raced over and nestled beside Andrew’s shoulder—not growling, but tenderly, ready to help. “You’re a good dog, Duke…” Andrew whispered, hugging the kitten close. “Better than most people.” From that day on, there were no longer just two friends living in the garden, but three. And the kennel, lovingly built, regained its true purpose—as a cosy home for rescued souls.

Winter had wrapped my garden in a soft white blanket, and yet my loyal dog, Dukea massive English Sheepdoghad started acting strangely.

Instead of curling up inside the large kennel Id lovingly built for him the summer before, he insisted on sleeping outside right in the snow. Watching him from my kitchen window, I felt a pang in my chestDuke had never behaved like this before.

Every morning, as I walked out to check on him, Duke would watch me with tense eyes. Whenever I got near the kennel, hed position himself between me and the doorway, giving a low growl while fixing me with a pleading look, as if to say: Please, dont go in there. After all the years wed spent side by side, such odd behaviour set my mind racingwhat could my best friend possibly be hiding?

Determined to get to the bottom of it, I hatched a little plan. I tempted Duke into the kitchen with a chunk of sizzling roast beef. While he barked his head off at the window, locked inside, I quietly crept over to the kennel and knelt down to peer inside. My heart nearly stopped as my eyes adjusted to the gloom and I saw what had made Duke act so out of sorts

Inside, curled in an old blanket, was a tiny kittenfilthy, frozen, and barely breathing. Its eyes opened only with effort, and its little body shook with the cold. Duke must have found it somewhere and instead of chasing it off or ignoring it, hed sheltered it. Hed slept outside to avoid frightening the kitten and guarded the entrance, as though inside that kennel was the worlds most precious treasure.

I held my breath. Gently, I reached in and lifted the tiny creature, cradling it against my chest. In that instant, Duke came dashing over and pressed close beside my shouldernot growling this time, but watching carefully, ready to help.

Youre a good boy, Duke I murmured, holding the kitten close. Far better than most people.

From that day onwards, there werent just two friends in the garden, but three. And that kennel, built with so much care, had found its true purposea little home for souls whod been saved.