Little Fuzzy

"Little Fuzzy" by H. Beam Piper follows Jack Holloway, who lives a reclusive life on the planet Zarathustra, owned by the Chartered Zarathustra Corporation. His world changes when he befriends a small, golden-furred humanoid named Little Fuzzy, who introduces him to his tribe. As the potential sapience of the Fuzzies becomes apparent, the Company threatens their existence to maintain control over valuable resources and avoid the implications of protecting an intelligent species.