Heroic Ghanaian Farm Dog Saves Abandoned 2-Week-Old Baby

A dog was hailed a hero after it was discovered that he protected a two-week-old baby abandoned by the mother under a bridge in Winkongo, near Bolgatanga in the Upper East regional capital of Ghana.

Life With Dogs reports officials say that the dog, a local farm dog, spent the night watching over the child under the bridge. The dog had gone missing for hours and the owner sent out a search party into the forest to find him. The dog was found in the morning under a bridge, near the owner's farm, with the human baby deriving warmth by nuzzling against its fur. According to Dog Heirs, Madan Rosemary Azure, Talensi-Nabdam District Director of Health, in an interview with Ghana News Agency, reported that the chief of police said the mother of the baby had abandoned it for unknown reasons. Dog Heirs reports that authorities suspect the mother of the child is a teenager.
According to Life With Dogs, the farm dog spent the night cuddling the baby under the bridge. Local health officials say the baby's umbilical cord was still uncut and was infected but the baby was unharmed and survived the night probably only because of the warmth derived from snuggling against the dog. Health authorities say the baby has been given vaccinations and placed in the care of the local health directorate until a home could be found for him.