For anyone who truly loves dogs, it is difficult to imagine how a family could abandon their pets in such harsh circumstances, whether on streets, in a dumpsite, or anywhere other than a safe shelter.
Sadly, incidents like these occur too frequently across the United States. Yet many of these stories end with rescue and hope, just as happened with one German Shepherd family left behind at a Mississippi dumpsite.
Clinging To Hope
NYC Second Chance Rescue Dogs shared the story of a German Shepherd family abandoned without food or water. Their team was able to rescue two puppies immediately, but volunteers reported that the adult male and female had fled into the nearby woods.
Lisa Reams, a volunteer with the organization and director of Saving Grace Animal Rescue (SGAR), the sister shelter of NYC Second Chance Rescue Dogs, began searching for the adult dogs. Her initial efforts yielded no results.
Despite the challenges, Lisa remained determined. After several days of searching, she finally located the two adults nearly 15 miles from the site where the puppies had been rescued. The organization later posted on Facebook:
“Days went by with no sign of them, but Lisa Reams, a rescue volunteer with our organization, never stopped looking. One week after the puppies were picked up, the mama and dad showed up nearly 15 miles from the dumpsite!”
The rescuers were most moved by the dogs’ loyalty. None of them wandered far from the area where they had been abandoned, likely waiting patiently each day for their owners to return.
Battling To Survive
When the family was finally reunited, their condition was concerning. They were dehydrated, undernourished, and required medical attention.
The adult male tested positive for heartworm, though fortunately, it was treatable.
The rest of the family did not show major health issues.
Despite their hardships, the dogs displayed a remarkable will to survive. Even after being left behind, they clung to life and stayed close to each other.
Their determination was matched only by the dedication of rescuers like Lisa and her team, who refused to give up on them.
Seeking Permanent Homes
Although the German Shepherd family was safe and back together, their journey was far from over. The next challenge was finding them permanent or foster homes.
The rescue team knew placing all four dogs together would be nearly impossible. What surprised them was how difficult it proved to secure homes for each dog individually.
One of the puppies quickly found an adoptive family, but the remaining three, Miles, a 4-month-old male puppy, Jenny, a 3-year-old mother, and Luke, a 3-year-old father, still needed homes.
The organization posted:
“One of the pups has been adopted, but Miles (a 4-month-old male pup), Jenny (a 3-year-old mom), and Luke (a 3-year-old dad) are all available for adoption! We need foster homes for these gorgeous dogs asap!”
There has been no further update on whether the remaining dogs were ultimately adopted. Still, one can hope that each of them eventually found loving homes full of care, comfort, and respect.
A Chance At Renewal
This story highlights both the cruelty that animals can face and the resilience they demonstrate in the face of abandonment. Thanks to the devotion of volunteers, the German Shepherd family received the second chance they deserved.
Even if they eventually went to different homes, they were no longer left alone to survive, abandoned and forgotten.