Farmer thought his disabled dog was just playing in the dirt — until tiny legs emerged from the ground, and he called police in horror
In May 2019, when a three-legged dog, Ping Pong, began barking and digging in an unusual way, his owner and other villagers in Thailand grew suspicious. At first, it seemed like he was just playing in the dirt. As they followed the dog, they noticed tiny legs in the ground, a discovery that left them horrified. Needless to say, Ping Pong is now hailed for his brave rescue mission.
Ping Pong is a well-known disabled canine from the northeast village, Ban Nong Kham, in Thailand. According to The Guardian, the then six-year-old was raised by a farmer, then 41-year-old Usa Nisaika, who cared for him since birth and described him as "a very good boy." Despite his shortcomings, this good boy did the unthinkable, which has the villagers praising his abilities. On one fine day, Ping Pong began sniffing and digging at a spot in the Cham Phuang district, capturing everyone’s attention.
Nisaika said, "I heard a dog barking and a baby crying in a cassava plantation, so I went there to check. The dog was digging up a dirt pile, and the baby’s legs emerged." This prompted villagers to rush for help and alert the police. It was later reported that the baby boy belonged to a 15-year-old girl, who confessed to burying the baby after being scared of her father’s reaction to her pregnancy. The girl was later charged with attempted murder, and the girl's family shared that they would look after the baby after it was declared healthy following the daring rescue.
Lieutenant Colonel Panuwat Puttakam of Cham Phuang police said, "The girl is now in the care of a psychologist and her parents because she is in great fear. She regrets what she did and said she acted on impulse without thinking it through. She feared her parents would find out she had been pregnant." Ping Pong, who has now emerged as the local hero, has always been loved by the villagers. The owner explained, "Ping Pong was hit by a car, so he’s disabled. But I kept him because he’s so loyal and obedient, and always helps me out when I go into the fields to tend to my cattle. He’s loved by the entire village. It’s amazing he found the baby."
As it turns out, a dog’s curious digging can do more than make a mess and can even save lives. In another incident, a woman named Taylor Pepper shared a chilling discovery after her dog wouldn’t stop digging in their backyard. Curious, she checked the spot and found a deep, uncovered well believed to date back to the 1800s. Years of grass and dirt had hidden the hole, making it a hidden danger right where her one- and two-year-old children played. Taylor’s husband tested its depth by dropping in a log that quickly vanished, showing how deep it went. Shocked and grateful, Taylor realized her dog’s persistence may have prevented a tragedy, calling him the reason her children were safe.