While driving through Fresno, California, a couple spotted a heartbreaking sight along the roadside. A solitary dog lay curled in a ditch, clearly in distress.
They immediately pulled over and hurried to help. As they approached, they noticed something unexpected. Nestled beside the dog was a newborn puppy, its eyes still closed.
Because the couple wasn’t local, they couldn’t take the dogs with them.
Determined to help, they spread blankets over the shivering mother and her baby, trying to keep them warm in the cold.
Rescuers Step In To Help The Abandoned Pair
The couple contacted a nearby rescue group, which then reached out to Fresno Humane Animal Services for help.
Priscilla Wolcott, an animal control officer with the organization, responded and drove to the location.
Upon arrival, she began searching but couldn’t immediately locate the dogs.
Just as she feared they might be gone, a mother dog, later named Momma Maisie, emerged from the ditch.
Wolcott was relieved to see her, along with the tiny puppy curled against her side.
“The puppy was really cold because it had been raining all night the night before,” Wolcott told The Dodo.
From the start, Momma Maisie seemed to trust her. She allowed Wolcott to gently place her and the puppy into the car.
Before leaving, Wolcott checked for additional puppies but found none.
Fresno Humane contacted its rescue network to secure a safe haven for the pair.
Friends of the Tracy Animal Shelter in Tracy, California, offered to take them and arranged for a foster pickup.
Wolcott felt thankful knowing they were headed to safety. She admired how fiercely Momma Maisie had protected her baby on the streets.
Healing Begins In A Foster Home
Once Momma Maisie and her puppy, Oreo, arrived at their foster home, both needed urgent care.
The mother was severely underweight and battling multiple parasites. She was placed on a high-protein diet to help her recover.
Oreo, just days old, required tube feeding and constant supervision.
Both dogs embraced the warmth and care of their new environment. Day by day, Momma Maisie and Oreo grew stronger and began to thrive.
As the weeks passed, Oreo started to enjoy life as a puppy and revealed her spirited nature. The shelter described her as “strong-willed.”
Momma Maisie gained weight and reached a healthy condition.
Soon, Oreo will be ready for spaying, and shortly after, both she and her mom will begin the search for their forever homes.
After surviving hunger and cold nights beside that ditch, they’re finally ready for the love and comfort they’ve always deserved.