While driving through Fresno, California, a couple came across a heartbreaking scene beside the road. A lone dog was curled up in a ditch, clearly in need of help.
The couple quickly pulled over and rushed to assist her. As they neared the dog, they discovered something unexpected.
Right beside her was a newborn puppy whose eyes hadn’t yet opened.
Since the couple wasn’t from the area, they couldn’t take the dogs with them.
Wanting to help, they laid out blankets to warm the mama dog and her baby, who were both shivering from the cold.
Rescue Responds to the Mother Dog and Her Pup
The couple contacted a local rescue group, who reached out to Fresno Humane Animal Services for help.
Priscilla Wolcott, an animal control officer with the organization, answered the call and drove to the spot.
When she arrived, she began searching for the dogs but initially couldn’t find them.
Just when she feared they might be gone, a mother dog, later named Momma Maisie, peeked out of the ditch.
Wolcott was relieved to spot her, along with the tiny puppy curled against her.
“The puppy was really cold because it had been raining all night the night before,” Wolcott told The Dodo.
From the moment they met, Momma Maisie seemed to trust her. She allowed Wolcott to gently load her and the puppy into the car.
Before leaving, Wolcott checked for other pups but didn’t find any.
Fresno Humane reached out to its rescue network to find a safe place for the mother and her puppy.
Friends of the Tracy Animal Shelter, a shelter in Tracy, California, offered to take them and arranged for a foster pickup.
Wolcott felt grateful knowing they would be safe. She recognized how hard Momma Maisie had worked to care for her baby on the streets.
Incredible Progress After Rescue
When Momma Maisie and Oreo arrived at their foster home, they both needed intensive care.
The mother dog was underweight and suffering from multiple parasites.
She was immediately placed on a special high-protein diet.
Oreo, being just a few days old, had to be tube-fed and constantly monitored by her foster.
Both dogs eagerly welcomed the love and comfort of their foster home.
With each passing day, Momma Maisie and Oreo gained strength and showed appreciation for their new environment.
As weeks went by, Oreo began to enjoy being a puppy and started showing her personality. According to the shelter, she’s very “strong-willed.”
Momma Maisie gained weight and reached a healthy size.
Soon, Oreo will be ready to be spayed, and not long after, both she and her mom will begin the search for their permanent homes.
After everything they endured beside that road, from hunger to freezing nights, they’re more than ready for the loving families they deserve.