Emily (name changed), 12, is poorly and staying at home that day. She's alone whilst her mum is at work. The young girl from Texas in the United States has a cold and a fever and needs to rest. But a desperate sound wakes her!
The twelve-year-old hears a faint, gasping whimper coming from the corner of her bedroom. Her little puppy "Buddy" is struggling to breathe. And there's no one there to help! As her mum isn't answering the phone either, Emily makes a quick decision.
A desperate plan
Without hesitating, the young girl grabs the car keys. She's never been behind the wheel before, but her fear for her best friend is stronger than any other worry. With trembling hands, she puts Buddy on the passenger seat, starts the engine and sets off.
Yard after yard, she makes her way through the streets of her small Texan town, determined to save her little dog. The twelve-year-old has driven nearly a mile when a blue light suddenly appears in the rear-view mirror.
The encounter with the police officer
The police officer who stops the car expects anything except a child behind the wheel. When he opens the door, he sees the young girl in tears and the puppy barely breathing.
He immediately understands that this isn't a criminal act, but actually a life-or-death emergency! He takes Buddy in his arms, settles Emily in the passenger seat of his car and rushes, siren wailing, to the nearest vet.
Between life and death
At the veterinary clinic, the doctors see how serious the dog's condition is. They immediately begin the battle for Buddy's life. Emily holds his little paw the whole time whilst tears stream down her face.
After long, agonising minutes, the liberating news finally arrives. The puppy has survived! He'll make a complete recovery, thanks to the quick reaction of his brave little owner.
"You have an extraordinary daughter"
Shortly afterwards, Emily's mum arrives at the clinic, completely distraught. There, the police officer approaches her and does something she doesn't expect at all.
Instead of lecturing the mother, the man looks at her and says calmly: "Normally, I'd advise you to educate your daughter better. But you know what? You've raised a strong, brave and compassionate young woman. We just need to make sure she drives on the right side of the road in a few years."
Today, Buddy is doing well. And Emily has become a little heroine in her town thanks to her "car theft". She instinctively did the right thing at the crucial moment.
