She picked something up, something tawny, beige-y colored. I assumed it was fast food scraps, such as chicken bones or a hamburger bun. But Maya didn't crunch down on the object. I looked closely and saw it was a kitten, about 6 weeks old. I made Maya drop the kitten. She was pretty excited about her find, but I was able to keep the kitten from her and wrapped the kitten in my carpenter's apron, which we use to hold our training treats.
I carried the kitten into the dog club, where club members experienced in cat rescue took over.
My agility instructor saw me with the kitten and congratulated Maya for being a hero. The agility instructor explained to me that livestock guardian dogs will take care of small creatures and will not crunch them and eat them. I knew that already, but was impressed that she knew, considering that I think Maya is the only Kuvasz ever in their agility classes or any other class there. (Most of the people who work there don't know how to spell or pronounce Kuvasz, even though they're "dog people," which makes me think Maya is the only Kuv ever at the club.)
The kitten is now in good hands and is being treated for fleas and tapeworms.
The photo is of Maya saying goodbye to the kitten, as the kitten was in a crate resting on the counter top in the club's office, before being taken away for treatment. It's not a very good photograph, but it was all I could manage under the circumstances. Maya's head is the white blob on the right.
Thank you, Maya, and congratulations on being a hero for that kitten!