If there were ever an award for “the best girl,” Anya the German shepherd would definitely get our vote!
Anya has always been a big help to her owner, Lori Knoble, around the house. But when the family brought home a stray cat, Anya stepped into a new role—official greeter and protector of the little feline!
Lori first noticed that Anya had a knack for helping out when she was doing laundry one day. After watching Lori for a while, Anya seemed to catch on to what was happening and decided to get involved. “She would always poke her head into the dryer when I was doing laundry, and then one day, she started pulling clothes out and handing them to me,” Lori shared with The Dodo.
What started as a small act of assistance soon grew into Anya taking on more responsibilities around the house. She began tidying up, such as putting the remote back in place, throwing trash away, unloading the dishwasher, and even carrying groceries in from the car! “Whatever I’m doing, she just wants to help,” Lori said.
One day, Lori’s husband, John, mentioned a stray kitten he had seen hanging around at a car wash. “He kept telling me, ‘There’s a kitten living in the dumpster at the car wash,’ and I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” Lori said. Eventually, they rescued the kitten and brought her home.
The family gave the little kitten, whom they named Munchie, a safe space in their basement, setting her up in a crate with a cozy bed and litter box. At first, Munchie was quite nervous and unsure about her new home. “She was pretty shy and probably very cautious about her new environment,” Lori explained.
But while Munchie was hesitant, Anya was eager to meet her! “There’s a little door leading to the basement, and Anya would just sit there, staring through the door at Munchie,” Lori said. “She couldn’t wait to meet her.”
When the day finally came for Anya to approach Munchie’s crate, she immediately made her presence known and never left her side! Though Munchie had the freedom to explore her crate, she was still a bit cautious around Anya. Sensing this, Anya patiently gave the kitten space, allowing her to warm up in her own time.
Over time, Munchie began to slowly interact with her new furry friend, first with brief glances and then little touches with her tail. The real turning point in their friendship came when Munchie discovered a shoestring. She quickly became obsessed with it, and Anya saw her chance. The loyal dog began tugging the shoestring around, turning it into a playful game with Munchie, and from that moment on, their bond was sealed!
From then on, Anya became both a mentor and a best friend to Munchie, ensuring the kitten felt safe, loved, and at home. “Anya helped us break the ice with Munchie,” Lori said. “She was the one who made it easier for Munchie to go from being in the basement to joining the family upstairs.”
Anya became Munchie’s constant companion, always entertaining her with toys and watching over her, and Munchie adored every minute of it. “I get so emotional just thinking about it because Anya is like an angel,” Lori shared. “It’s so heartwarming to see little Munchie with her.”
These poor kitties were rescued from an animal cruelty case where they were starved, locked in cages with inches of feces, and received no water or food. Now, these cats need your help!
We agree wholeheartedly! Fortunately, we can all keep up with Anya’s sweet moments on Instagram.
Be sure to watch Anya and Munchie’s heartwarming journey in the video below and spread this delightful story!