Salem’s journey had been anything but simple.
While many dogs spend their days as adored family companions, Salem’s fate took a different turn. Her former owners decided they “didn’t want her anymore” and gave her up without a second thought.
Left behind, she ended up living with a kind neighbor in rural Mississippi, unsure of what would come next.
Thankfully, help soon arrived.
A Stunning Twist
Wanting the best for Salem, the neighbor contacted Happy Tails Canine Rescue in Memphis, Tennessee. The rescue team welcomed her warmly, and it didn’t take long for everyone to realize how gentle and affectionate she was.
Salem quickly showed she was the perfect dog: sweet, calm, and loving. Once HTCR shared her story online, adoption applications poured in.
Before finding a home, though, she needed time to heal. She arrived severely underweight, suffering from parasites and an injured paw, all requiring weeks of treatment and care.
When Salem regained her health, she finally joined a loving family. Her painful past was behind her, and she was ready for a new beginning.
HTCR continued overseeing her medical needs, including a planned spay appointment. But during that visit, an astonishing revelation came to light.
The vet discovered that Salem couldn’t be spayed after all, because she was expecting puppies.
“When the vet went in to spay her, she found Salem was pregnant and due more than likely in a few days,” the rescue wrote on Facebook.
The news stunned both the rescue staff and Salem’s adoptive family. She had shown no visible signs of pregnancy, and no one had suspected a thing.
One More Surprise
Though the situation was unexpected, Salem’s new family was ready to support her and help care for her future litter until the puppies found homes of their own.
A few days later, the big moment arrived. But before delivery, the vet performed an X-ray to count the puppies and what they discovered left everyone speechless.
There was only one puppy. And she was huge.
“We asked for an x ray to get a puppy count…Salem is pregnant with ONE puppy! One miracle puppy,” the rescue wrote.
This rare singleton pregnancy surprised everyone. Curious about her background, the family ordered a DNA test to learn more about Salem’s breed.
They discovered she wasn’t the Australian Shepherd–Border Collie mix they had assumed. Instead, she was 95% Great Pyrenees, which explained the puppy’s large size.
Despite potential risks associated with single births, Salem’s little one arrived perfectly healthy. The puppy, named Astrid, was thriving under the care and love of her devoted mom and family.
For now, the two remain together. Salem will continue caring for Astrid until she’s strong enough for independence.
“Both Salem and Astrid will be spayed and baby Astrid will be up for adoption in our rescue,” the rescue added.
For Salem, life continues to hold a few surprises, and only time will reveal what comes next.