Through the half-open door, it was clear: the girl lived completely alone in that old, freezing house. No toys, no food, no heating — just a thin mattress on the floor and five enormous German Shepherds lying around her.

He didn’t wait a second. With trembling hands, he called child protective services and explained the situation. Twenty minutes later, a car pulled into the yard. The girl, frightened, pressed herself against one of the dogs, but the man crouched beside her and said softly: