Rescue missions are always unpredictable. Some dogs willingly cooperate, some require patience and persuasion, while others turn into truly difficult challenges.
This story falls into that last category.
A Difficult Mission
When Donna Lochmann, chief life-saving officer at Stray Rescue of St. Louis, Missouri, spotted a small dog family taking shelter through the open window of a crawlspace, she and her team immediately knew they had to act.
Catching the mother dog and two of her puppies came quickly and without much effort. But the rest of the litter refused to come quietly.
The remaining pups bolted deep inside the crawlspace, forcing Donna to get down flat and crawl into the cramped, dusty area herself.
“There was not enough room to even be on hands and knees, she had to army crawl under there, and it went so far back. The puppies knew the space well, but we didn’t!” the St. Louis rescue wrote on Facebook.
Donna’s determination pushed her further until she finally reached the frightened little ones—four more pups hiding in the very back. But now came the hard part: how to safely get them out.
One By One
Donna decided the only way to rescue them was to pull them out one at a time. She would grab a puppy, crawl back to the entrance, hand it over to her team, then turn around and crawl right back inside for the next.
After several exhausting trips through the tight crawlspace, Donna finally emerged with every last puppy safe in her arms.
“We are pleased to tell you that we are very dirty, but we have 6 perfect, chubby babies and one wonderful mama all safe and sound!” the team happily shared.
The reunited family quickly headed to the vet for a much-needed checkup.
Final Word
This mission perfectly shows just how far rescuers are willing to go when animals need them most. It takes not only empathy and skill, but also sheer determination, grit, and patience to pull off rescues like this.
Donna once again proved why she’s considered a hero—braving tight crawlspaces and dust just to make sure six tiny lives had a chance at a better future.