In a magical corner of l’Empordà, surrounded by olive trees and vineyards, is Mas Torrencito, a unique home where pets are the real protagonists and people are the guests. Manuela and her Christmas stories by MasTorrencito
Among all the stories that were born in this magical place, there is one that has never been forgotten: that of Manuela, Mas Torrencito’s most beloved dog, and her act of love on a cold Christmas.
A cold morning and an unexpected destination ❄️🐕
They say it all happened one cold December, days before Christmas. Manuela, the wisest and most beloved dog in town, was an emblematic figure in Mas Torrencito. Her human, Miguel, always spoke of her with pride and affection, because she was much more than a dog: she was his companion, his family.
That morning, Manuela went for a walk with Miguel, as they did every day. The frosty air covered the fields with frost, and the sun was barely rising. But something on the road seemed different. Manuela, who always walked calmly, stopped dead in her tracks. Her ears, almost always drooped, suddenly perked up, and her eyes shone with an intensity that Miguel had never seen before.
-What is it, Manuela? -asked Miguel, surprised.
Manuela pulled on the leash, insistent, as if the wind itself was whispering something that Miguel could not hear. She pulled again and again until Miguel, bewildered, decided to let her lead. Their steps took them to the outskirts of town, to a dumpster that seemed abandoned among the olive trees.
The discovery under the frost 🐾🍼
Manuela began to bark loudly in front of the dumpster, scratching the ground with her paws and whimpering as if her heart knew something Miguel did not yet understand. With some fear, Miguel lifted the lid of the dumpster. What he saw inside chilled his soul.
Among cardboard boxes and scraps of food, five tiny, barely newborn puppies shivered in the cold. Their tiny bodies were pressed against each other, and their whimpers were so faint as to be barely audible.
-My God… Who could have done such a thing? -Miguel muttered, his voice trembling.
Manuela climbed up on her hind legs to look inside the container. She let out a low, almost maternal whimper and licked one of the little puppies tenderly, as if she wanted to transmit some of her warmth to it.
-Calm down, Manuela. We are going to save them,” said Miguel, as he wrapped the puppies in his coat and took them running towards Mas Torrencito.
Struggling to survive 🏡🔥
That night, in front of Mas Torrencito’s fireplace, the puppies found the warmth they needed so much. Miguel prepared soft blankets and warm milk to feed them, while Manuela did not leave them for a moment. She licked them one by one, with the care of an experienced mother, and gently nudged them with her muzzle so that they would not stop fighting.
Hours passed, and although four of the cubs began to react, one of them, the smallest, did not. He was so fragile that the cold had been too much for him.
Miguel held it in his hands, with tears in his eyes.
-I’m sorry, little one… We’re too late,” he whispered, as Manuela came closer to say goodbye with a slight groan.
They buried the puppy under the big olive tree of Mas Torrencito, a place where the sunlight always seemed warmer. They named him Estrella, because his little life, though brief, had shone brightly.
An ending full of love ✨❤️
The other four puppies, however, survived. Day after day, Miguel and Manuela cared for them with dedication. Their whimpers became barks, and soon they began to run and play around the house, filling every corner with joy. Each of them found a loving home, but they never forgot Manuela. Every time they returned to visit Mas Torrencito, they ran straight to her, as if they knew they owed her their lives.
Over the years, Manuela became a town legend. She was not just a dog; she was a symbol of love and courage. When she finally closed her eyes forever, Miguel and all who knew her remembered her with tears and smiles.
They say that, on winter nights, if you look up at the sky from the patio of Mas Torrencito, you can see a star that shines a little brighter than the others. It is Estrella, watching over Manuela from the sky, and together they keep watching, looking for more lives to save.
Manuela’s footprint 🐾✨
At Mas Torrencito, every corner holds a piece of this story. Today, guests arriving with their pets hear the legend of Manuela, the dog who once saved five lives and taught the world what unconditional love means.
And so his spirit lives on, reminding us that, even in the darkest of times, there is always light and hope.
From MasTorrencito we wish you a good day and that your dogs accompany you !!!!
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