At first, I thought she had found food or something similar. But fighting so desperately for food in such weather? Unlikely. I stopped the car, stepped out into the downpour, and walked closer.

Then I saw it: down below, near a concrete wall, a small puppy was struggling in vain to climb up. Its little paw was injured, and it couldn’t make it up. When the adult dog saw me, her barking suddenly turned into a plaintive whine, as if she were begging for help.