Watch the UAE dog that has won hearts by caring for paralysed hen in Sharjah

Sharjah: In a heartwarming story, a dog named Rover in the UAE has won the admiration of both workers and visitors at an industrial manufacturing workshop in Al Sajja area of Sharjah for his extraordinary compassion toward a paralysed hen.

Jude Fernandes, the owner of the workshop, spoke to Gulf News about this touching display of empathy.

“I've been with so many pets all my life and I have a dog at home for about 15 years, but their actions or reactions haven't been like this,” said the Indian expat businessman from Goa.

“We’ve had pets around the workshop for years—cats, chickens, quails, dogs—but I’ve never seen anything like this,” he explained.

So, what has Rover, believed to be a mixed breed, done to win the hearts of Jude, his workers and friends?

According to Jude, the paralysed hen, one of the chickens living on the premises, was found lying motionless over a week ago. While Jude and his workers had lost hopes on the bird, Rover had other ideas.

He started picking up the hen in his mouth and dropping her at Jude’s feet soon after he pulls his car into the workshop every morning.

“Rover started bringing her to my feet every single day. At first, I thought he wanted to play with her, but then I realised he was asking me to help.”

A video shot by a worker at the workshop on Tuesday showed how Rover even hugged Jude on being assured that he will take the hen to the doctor.

Gulf News visited the workshop and witnessed the rare sight on Wednesday.

Jude said Rover might have sensed that he could help the hen because he had taken Rover to the vet for vaccinations and treatment earlier.

“I had given up hope on that bird, honestly. But Rover’s daily acts moved me to give it a try.”

Inspired by Rover’s silent plea, Jude began looking for possible treatments. He said some local veterinary clinics offered no treatment for the paralysed hen.

However, Jude persisted and eventually found an online recommendation involving vitamin supplements.

The hen has now been on medication for a couple of days, and early signs suggest she is responding well.

Rover the star and his dotting mom

The workshop, though dedicated to industrial work, has taken on the air of a peaceful mini pen behind the building. There are trees and small tanks as well as cages that the workers have made specially fabricated for the animals. In summer, they provide cold water for the animals to cool them off, said Jude.

He said Rover was born to a pet dog from a neighbouring household around a year and a half ago. “Rover was brought here by his mother when he was hardly a month old.”

However, his mother still visits daily “like a regular shift,” arriving at around 9am and leaving by evening, said Jude.

Rover has been the star among the pets. “He has always been an amazing boy. When two cats fight, he will stand in between them to stop them. When we finish work, he will not let any visitors enter until one of the employees comes to the gate.”

His team of 14 workers are also deeply moved by Rover’s gesture with the ill hen. “They couldn’t believe what they were seeing. It’s rare to witness such pure empathy in any creature, let alone between a dog and a bird.”

Animals have feelings

Rover’s actions have sparked conversations around love and compassion among animals, even among those afraid of dogs.

“I saw it with my own eyes. The dog, with tenderness rarely attributed to animals, carried out his daily ritual. It was a moment I will never forget,” said Jude’s friend Bernard Dsouza, who visited the workshop with his family last weekend.

“Despite not being an animal lover myself and having a deep-seated fear of dogs since childhood, I was touched when my friend shared how he had researched a possible treatment and ordered vitamins from abroad to try and save the tiny creature after Rover’s plea.”

He added that the ‘day shift’ visit by Rover’s mother felt like something out of a storybook.

Jude said Rover’s act was a perfect example that showed animals have feelings too. “Sometimes they care more than we do. People should come out of their phobias,” he added.

Now, along with Rover, everyone is looking forward to the speedy recovery of the hen, which still doesn’t have a name.