Going home from work, a woman in Houston, Texas, came across a heartbreaking scene. Two stray dogs were trying to stay warm in a pile of trash and discarded mattresses.
She could not just walk away. Wanting to help, she contacted a local rescue group to let them know that two pups needed urgent care. When the rescuers arrived, however, they quickly realized the situation was far bigger than they expected.
A Much Bigger Surprise
Because the dogs did not trust people, rescuers had trouble getting close to them. In the end, they decided to set traps as the safest approach.
“We quickly managed to trap the momma dog, and we also trapped a young female dog that we believe was her daughter from her previous litter,” said Sylvia Lopez of Houston Dog Outreach Guardians.
Soon after, Lopez noticed another dog hiding in the trash. What began as two strays turned out to be an entire family in need.
Mom, Dad, three daughters, and even a Grandma were all struggling to survive together.
“We managed to chase behind Grandma, then she got tired of running and gave up. She didn’t put up a fight [because] she was exhausted,” Lopez added.
A Long Night Of Rescues
The rescue team worked through the day to save the abandoned family, but the dogs had lost nearly all faith in humans.
With little success, the rescuers decided to set more traps and leave them overnight. By morning, their patience paid off.
“I went to check the traps at 5 a.m. and, thankfully, Daddy and puppy were trapped safely,” Lopez said.
Still, one pup remained on the loose: the youngest daughter.
Lopez left another trap set for her and brought the rest of the pups back to the rescue, reuniting them with their family.
“Later that same day, we went back to check the trap and finally trapped the last dog, the young daughter. We reunited the whole family at our holding facility,” Lopez concluded.
A Fresh Start
With a roof overhead and food in their bellies, the dogs slowly began to relax. Their personalities soon started shining through.
The two-year-old mom, Naomi, quickly proved to be sweet and trusting. Her eight-month-old daughters were timid at first, but with time they realized they were safe.
Her two-month-old daughter, Abigail, also needed reassurance, yet once she warmed up she became playful and full of energy.
The father, Thomas, also two years old, still takes time to adjust, but when surrounded by his family, he feels more secure.
The ten-year-old grandma settled in right away, showing affection to everyone she met and enjoying her walks.
Shannon and Christel, the daughters, will remain at the rescue with their grandmother, while the rest of the family has gone into foster care, waiting patiently for forever homes.
A Final Reflection
This inspiring rescue story is a reminder that when a family sticks together, there is little they cannot overcome.
May each of these dogs find the love and happiness they so clearly deserve.