In 2003, police in Warwickshire, England, opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog.. It had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished, and had clearly been abused.
In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a Greyhound female, to the nearby Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, run by a man named Geoff Grewcock and known as a willing haven for Animals abandoned, orphaned or otherwise in need.
Geoffand the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims to restore the dog to full health, and to win her trust. It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved.
They named her Jasmine, and they started to think about finding her an adoptive home.
But Jasmine had other ideas. No-one remembers now how it began, but she started welcoming all Animal arrivals at the sanctuary. It wouldn't matter if it was a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or, any other lost or hurting Animal, Jasmine would peer into the box or cage and, where possible, deliver a welcoming lick.
Geoff relates one of the early incidents. "We had two puppies that had been abandoned by a nearby railway line. One was a Lakeland Terrier cross and another was a Jack Russell Doberman cross. They were tiny when they arrived at the centre and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee. Then she fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them."
"But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits. She takes all the stress out of them and it helps them to not only feel close to her but to settle into their new surroundings.
"She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs, she licks the rabbits and guinea pigs and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose."
Jasmine, the timid, abused, deserted waif, became the animal sanctuary's resident surrogate mother, a role for which she might have been born. The list of orphaned and abandoned youngsters she has cared for comprises five fox cubs, four badger cubs, 15 chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and 15 rabbits.
And one roe deer fawn. Tiny Bramble, 11 weeks old, was found semi-conscious in a field. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jasmine cuddled up to her to keep her warm, and then went into the full foster mum role. Jasmine the greyhound showers Bramble the Roe deer with affection and makes sure nothing is matted.
"They are inseparable," says Geoff "Bramble walks between her legs and they keep kissing each other. They walk together round the sanctuary."
It's a real treat to see them."
Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be returned to woodland life. When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely. She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next Orphan or victim of abuse.
[From left, Toby, a stray Lakeland dog; Bramble, orphaned Roe deer; Buster, a stray Jack Russell; a dumped rabbit; Sky, an injured barn owl; and Jasmine with a Mothers heart doing best what a caring Mother would do... Such is the order of God's Creation. Story originally reported in Daily Mail.]
Joyce wrote: What a wonderful story and beautiful pictures. I only hope god in his great kingdom will include all creatures such as jasmine, along with all she has mothered. There are many, many lessons we as human beings could learn from the animals. We care for birds and cats and they love us as we care for them in a loving way. Compassion and empathy works both ways.
bunki wrote: The warmth of an animals heart...
Bonnie wrote: God has put those wonderful animals here,so they could show us what unconditional love is, god bless!
Dee wrote: Lovely - thank you - give jasmine a kiss for me. Dee
Paula wrote: Wow. This is one of the sweetest stories ever. So sweet.
Melissa wrote: Just think if jasmine would have died in that shed. What a beautiful life that would have been gone.
Bea wrote: What a beautiful story, i've always said animals are more humane than most humans. I went to battersea dog home once, it was full of greyhounds, who,had made their owners lots of money racing, then been dumped when they were too old. I would love to give jasmine a big kiss on her nose. x
bharnig wrote: Wonderful story. Thanks for sharing. I wish i can also become one like jasmine without discrimination in my mind for my fellow human beings.
VIJAYA wrote: Jasmine delineates how we must help each other without expecting anything in return; this is how we achieve true love from everyone around us.
dlboehner wrote: I have seen this story before and know it to be true. We should all have a heart as nondescriminating as jasmine.