It looked like a simple rescue at first, the kind of call that seems clear from the moment you arrive. A Missouri rescuer came to help a mother dog and her litter, fully expecting the whole thing to be quick and fairly straightforward.
The mama stood there with a quiet kind of patience, her puppies tucked close beside her. There was no panic, no commotion, just that unmistakable look in her eyes, hopeful, watchful, and asking for help without making a sound.
The rescuer clipped on a leash and started guiding the little family to safety.
Then, right as she was about to leave, she noticed something.
There was a slight movement behind a crate.
That was when she saw a tiny puppy who had been missed. This little one was smaller than the others, weaker too, and clearly having a harder time. He had not even been counted with the rest of the litter.
In an instant, what had seemed like a routine rescue became something much heavier, a moment filled with surprise, heart, and far more meaning than anyone had expected.
A Surprise Discovery
When Donna Lochmann got the call about abandoned puppies and their mother in an empty house, she was ready to help.
She gathered all the necessary equipment, including a trap, as rescuing a mom and her pups required a lot of space in her vehicle.
However, when Donna arrived at the scene, she saw something she hadn’t anticipated. It wasn’t just the mother dog and her litter.
Donna noticed another dog, larger than the others. She only had one trap large enough for this bigger dog, so this complicated things.
Upon closer inspection, Donna figured this dog was likely the mama dog’s sister. Before looking for the puppies, Donna needed to focus on rescuing the two dogs.
She placed treats in the trap and waited, hoping they would go inside. This would allow her to search for the puppies without any risk.
Finding The Puppies
Donna called the construction workers who had initially contacted Stray Rescue of St. Louis’ (SRSL) to assist in the search for the puppies.
They searched the entire yard, finally discovering them hiding under a pile of lumber.
In no time, all eight puppies were secured, and the mama dog was successfully captured in the trap.
After resetting the trap, Donna hoped the second dog would enter. Fortunately, she understood and went right inside.
Soon after, the entire family was taken to the SRSL veterinary clinic, where they received medical attention. Thankfully, they were all given a clean bill of health.
Donna and the team soon realized that the two sibling dogs, Award and Prize, were very close. They decided that they should stay together and would only be adopted as a pair.
While all the puppies have found their homes, Award and Prize are still waiting. They’ve adjusted well to their new lives and are sure to get along with anyone willing to offer them a loving home.