At first, the rescue in Missouri seemed like it would be simple enough. A rescuer had come for a mother dog and her puppies, expecting the kind of call that looked clear from the start.
The mama waited calmly, her little ones gathered close. She was not frantic or loud, just watchful, hopeful, and silently asking someone to help.
Once the leash was clipped on, the rescuer began leading the small family away from danger.
Then something behind a crate moved.
A tiny puppy had been overlooked. He was smaller than the others, weaker too, and clearly struggling more than the rest of the litter.
In that moment, what had seemed routine became much deeper, carrying surprise, tenderness, and more meaning than anyone had expected.
A Surprise Discovery
When Donna Lochmann got the call about abandoned puppies and their mother in an empty house, she was ready to help.
She gathered all the necessary equipment, including a trap, as rescuing a mom and her pups required a lot of space in her vehicle.
However, when Donna arrived at the scene, she saw something she hadn’t anticipated. It wasn’t just the mother dog and her litter.
Donna noticed another dog, larger than the others. She only had one trap large enough for this bigger dog, so this complicated things.
Upon closer inspection, Donna figured this dog was likely the mama dog’s sister. Before looking for the puppies, Donna needed to focus on rescuing the two dogs.
She placed treats in the trap and waited, hoping they would go inside. This would allow her to search for the puppies without any risk.
Finding The Puppies
Donna called the construction workers who had initially contacted Stray Rescue of St. Louis’ (SRSL) to assist in the search for the puppies.
They searched the entire yard, finally discovering them hiding under a pile of lumber.
In no time, all eight puppies were secured, and the mama dog was successfully captured in the trap.
After resetting the trap, Donna hoped the second dog would enter. Fortunately, she understood and went right inside.
Soon after, the entire family was taken to the SRSL veterinary clinic, where they received medical attention. Thankfully, they were all given a clean bill of health.
Donna and the team soon realized that the two sibling dogs, Award and Prize, were very close. They decided that they should stay together and would only be adopted as a pair.
While all the puppies have found their homes, Award and Prize are still waiting. They’ve adjusted well to their new lives and are sure to get along with anyone willing to offer them a loving home.