Vatani was a Dutch Shepherd and Pitbull mix that my brother and I discovered wandering the streets one day. My heart compelled me to bring her home, and understanding my deep desire for another dog, my mother graciously allowed me to keep her. I named her Vatani after the lion from "The Lion King 2," although the original spelling included an 'i' between the 'V' and the 'T.' Her appearance leaned more towards the Dutch Shepherd, yet she possessed the pronounced shoulders typical of a Pitbull. Vatani had partial blindness in her right eye, and as a result, some people unjustly referred to her as a "demon dog." She was wary of strangers, and we suspected her previous owners had mistreated her. Despite her cautious nature, Vatani was fiercely protective. Her only behavioral issue was that she would jump on people and nip at them when overly excited. One memorable day, as I was walking her, Vatani unexpectedly dashed across the street. I followed her and found her lying protectively beside an unattended baby. I brought the child to our home, and my mother promptly contacted emergency services. After the baby was taken to the hospital, Vatani received a lot praise for her bravery. I was immensely proud of her, as she overcame her fear of strangers to rescue a child. The only instance when Vatani bit me occurred during a confrontation between her and my other dog, Sara. I naively inserted my hand between them to break up the fight, resulting in an inadvertent bite. It wasn't until I noticed the blood that I realized what had happened, and now, the scar serves as a poignant reminder of Vatani. Following my mother's passing in 2021, I faced the difficult decision to rehome Vatani along with my other pets, Sara, Kodiak, Peanut, Pinecone, and Flower. I sorely miss Vatani and cherish the hope of being reunited with her one day.