When Jaime Simpson noticed her toddling daughter and their family dog suddenly quiet down, she decided to investigate, only to be pleasantly surprised by what she saw.
At 26 years old, Simpson is a service dog trainer who recently moved with her family and their beloved dog, Echo, into a new home in Jacksonville, Florida.
Since moving into the new house, her two-year-old daughter, Halston, has taken a liking to playing inside empty cabinets, using them as her own hiding spot.
One day, Simpson noticed that Halston, who usually was always humming or babbling, was now completely silent. This prompted Simpson to check on Halston and Echo, as the dog often accompanied the little girl during playtime. However, Simpson soon discovered that even Echo was nowhere to be found.
Simpson told The Epoch Times, “I found the two of them squished into an empty kitchen cabinet, snuggled up tightly together.”
Watching this heartwarming scene unfold, Simpson couldn’t help but think to herself, “Echo is so caring, lying there motionless so as not to disturb the sleeping little mistress.”
She believed its paws might have gone numb a long time ago.
Without hesitation, Simpson captured this precious moment on camera and shared it on social media. To her surprise, the video quickly went viral online, gaining a lot of likes and comments from netizens.
One social media user commented, “To think that Echo would endure the pain of numb paws rather than waking the little mistress up.”
Another netizen added, “This is the first time I’ve seen a dog ‘trapped by a napper’.”
In response to the enthusiastic reactions from netizens, Simpson said, “People are kind. I’ve received many kind messages, saying that this video has warmed their hearts.”
Simpson described Echo, a male Australian Shepherd, as “energetic, fun, and very intelligent,” and recently, it has been frequently seen snuggling up with Halston.
“They have had intimate interactions before, but not in such a strange place,” Simpson said.
This family has been raising Echo for three years, and naturally, it assumed the role of a guardian when Halston was born. Now, when Halston feels tired, she calls for Echo, and the obedient and wise Echo finds a suitable spot by her side, quietly watching over her.
“Echo always stays close to her, keeping a close eye on her,” Simpson said. If it senses any danger for her, the dog will guard the door. In return, Halston always ensures that Echo has a companion to cuddle with, while giving it lots of gentle hugs.
Simpson is a content creator, disability advocate, and a dog and disability rights advocate. By sharing sweet moments between her daughter and their beloved dog on social media, she hopes to show people how empathetic animals can be.
She believes that “the minds of dogs are much more complex than we imagine, and they are also more considerate.”
She said, “They love us unconditionally, so we also have a responsibility to show them the same kindness.”