A farmer was finishing his evening chores when his normally obedient farm dog began barking furiously at one haystack near the edge of the field.
The farmer called him several times, but the dog refused to move. He circled the hay, scratched at the ground, and continued barking as though something were trapped inside.
Concerned, the farmer started pulling away the heavy layers of straw.
Deep inside the stack, he discovered a newborn lamb that had wandered away from its mother and become wedged beneath the hay. The frightened animal was weak, cold, and barely able to make a sound.
The farmer carefully lifted the lamb free, wrapped it in a blanket, and carried it back to the barn. Its mother immediately rushed toward it, while the dog stood nearby watching quietly.
Had the dog not refused to leave the haystack, the tiny lamb might never have been found in time.
That evening, the farmer gave his loyal companion an extra meal and called him the best farmhand he had ever known.


