In Missouri, Donna Lochmann, a dedicated animal rescuer, has shown remarkable commitment to saving distressed dogs over the years.
Her experiences have been challenging, dealing with abandoned pets and dire situations. However, few situations have impacted her like a recent discovery of a mother dog and her puppies in a near-collapsing house.
It’s heartbreaking to imagine a single dog struggling for survival, but an entire dog family trapped in desperate conditions is even more heartrending.
So when Donna and her team from Stray Rescue of St. Louis received a tip about a mother dog in an abandoned home, they knew immediate action was necessary.
According to Stray Rescue of St. Louis in a YouTube video, “We walk in the entryway, where a front door used to be. We see a mama dog, staring at us.
She barks, her ribs and spine showing, and runs out the back door.” Despite not knowing at first how unstable the building was, Donna and her team pressed on.
The house was littered with decaying waste and broken debris. The threat of injury from rusted nails protruding from the floors made every step treacherous.
Amid the eerie quiet of the place, Donna heard faint cries. Her search led her to the basement, where the staircase barely held together.
As she carefully descended, the fragile steps gave way. Fortunately, she caught herself and dropped into the basement, where her discovery awaited.
In the dimly lit room, five tiny puppies huddled in fear. They allowed Donna to gently place them into crates, but the mother dog was nowhere in sight, having fled in fear.
However, once the puppies began to whimper, their cries drew the worried mother back, showcasing her deep love and concern.
With the puppies secured, the team focused on rescuing their mother. Although she was cautious and hard to approach, leaving her behind was not an option. Reinforcements arrived, and together they devised a plan.
By slowly coaxing the mother dog into a corner, they managed to loop a leash around her. However, navigating her through the unstable building posed a risk. Instead, they delicately positioned a large crate around her, carefully carrying her to safety.
Finally, Donna transported the reunited family, now named Mary Berry and her puppies, to the Stray Rescue of St. Louis facility. The reunion in the rescue vehicle was a touching sight, as Mary began to relax, comforted by her pups.
The rescue recounted in a post, “We get them set up in one of our offices with comfy blankets, bowls of food, and fresh water.
We reunite this little family, and it is the sweetest moment. We face so much heartbreak in rescue, but this is a good day worth celebrating.”
The puppies, lovingly named Stodgy, Shortbread, Sponge, Showstopper, and Soggy Bottom, are now under care alongside Mary until they are ready for adoption.
In their temporary home, they are enveloped in warmth, nourishment, and gentle attention, a world away from the peril they escaped.
When the time comes, each will embark on a new journey to find a forever home, where they will be cherished for life.
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