One of the most heartbreaking myths I hear far too often is that animals don’t feel emotions.
It’s common to hear people claim our furry companions act only on instinct, incapable of experiencing grief, love, or happiness.
But I’ve watched dogs leap with joy, cats curl up and purr in their owner’s lap, and even birds rest gently in a human’s hand.
To show how wrong this thinking is, I want to share a story of both heartbreak and healing that could soften even the most skeptical heart. Grab some tissues… this one’s a tough read.
Push On Through
When animal rescuer Eve from Pups Without Borders learned about a pregnant dog at a local shelter, she stepped in to ensure the mama had a safe, stress-free place to await her puppies.
But when she met the dog, now named Grace, something seemed off.
“We took her to the vet and they weren’t really sure what was going on, but they thought maybe she was just getting really big because she had such a large litter,” Eve told GeoBeats.
Her initial plan was to care for Grace until she gave birth and then place her with a foster home that was eagerly awaiting both her and the puppies.
Sadly, nothing went as expected. Grace ended up losing her entire litter.
“We had already taken a PCR sample from Grace to our vet. We do that as a precaution for all of our dogs, especially the moms or pregnant dogs and sure enough we found out that Grace had canine herpes virus. For adult dogs, it’s usually asymptomatic and doesn’t cause any issues, but for puppies under three weeks, it’s usually a hundred percent fatal,” she added.
Everyone at the rescue was heartbroken. Watching Grace grieve for the puppies she would never raise left them all shattered.
They tried cheering her up with long walks, yummy snacks, and lots of affection, but nothing seemed to help.
Then, they received a phone call that changed everything.
Hope Arrives When It’s Needed Most
A nonprofit reached out to the rescue with news of a litter of orphaned puppies who needed someone to care for them.
Their mother had passed away, and not one of the 11 pups had eaten since. When Eve heard the situation, she immediately thought of Grace. Knowing Grace still had milk, she figured it was worth trying an introduction.
“We all decided that it was the best chance the puppies had. So, 11 o’clock at night when they arrived, I sped over as fast as I could, got them in a crate, picked them up, drove them home, opened the crate and she started sniffing them and wagging her tail and licking them and then trying to crawl into the crate,” she said.
In moments, Grace was lying down nursing the starving puppies.
Over the next few weeks, this devoted mama gave the pups the care they desperately needed. They grew up strong, healthy, and completely adorable, and it wasn’t long before each found a loving home.
Impressed by Grace’s loving nature and resilience, Eve decided to keep her in the rescue family for good.
Now, anytime a litter needs extra comfort and attention, Grace is the one they call.