James Allen, a Tennessee resident, usually drives the same rural stretch of road in Dickson County on his way to work.
He knows every bend and turn like the back of his hand, but one morning, something unusual caught his attention and made him slam the brakes.
Standing on the roadside was a frail dog, guarding a cardboard box marked “eggs” as if her life depended on it.
James instantly sensed there was more to the story hidden inside that box…
A Box Of Surprises
One glance at the skinny pup’s sorrowful eyes told James everything he needed to know. She hadn’t just ended up there by chance. She had been dumped.
When he leaned over to inspect the box, he was stunned to discover five tiny puppies huddled inside.
“I travel that road almost every day and the box was not there yesterday, the lid was closed as you can see in the picture, so the pups couldn’t get out. Also, it was so fresh there was no poop or pee in the bottom of the box,” James told Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue.
It suddenly made sense. The dog was their mother, faithfully protecting her babies and still looking up the road, waiting for the people who abandoned her to come back.
“Mom was looking up the road, as if to see whether her people were returning,” the representative from Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue told The Dodo.
Shaken by the discovery, James snapped photos and shared them online, hoping that help would arrive before it was too late.
Fortunately, Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue, based in Nashville, TN, quickly saw the post and assured James they would step in to help the family.
A Safe Haven
Later that same day, the mother dog and her five pups were safely in the hands of the rescue team.
“These babies and mom are now safe with us, but to think we walk among this level of cruelty and ignorance is disturbing,” the rescue wrote in their Facebook post.
The little family was given food, warm beds, and much-needed care. Staff members immediately began planning for their future, determined to help each one find a loving home.
Sadly, cases like this are all too common in Dickson County, and though the rescuers weren’t surprised, they were heartbroken nonetheless.
“Sadly, things like this occur far too frequently in this area. Regardless of the redundancy of these situations, it infuriates me and breaks my heart,” the representative told The Dodo.
While the family is now safe, the search is on for whoever abandoned them so cruelly.
“Someone in Dickson County “KNOWS” who the owner is. Message us!,” pleaded the rescue to their followers.
Thanks to James Allen’s quick action and the compassion of Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue, this resilient mother and her pups have a second chance at life, one where love and safety replace fear and neglect.
For updates on the puppies and their journey, visit Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue.