Sara Williamson never imagined her quick grocery trip would end in a rescue mission.
After walking out of a Kroger in Mississippi, she glanced toward the parking lot and spotted a weary, lonely dog pacing around.
In an instant, Williamson realized the pup had recently given birth and was still nursing. Her stomach dropped.
Without a second thought, she rushed back inside, bought some food, and returned to offer it to the desperate mama.
The dog lingered at a distance, too cautious to come close. It was clear she had survived as a stray for a long time, her trust in humans nearly gone. Still, Williamson knew she couldn’t just turn away.
Searching For Hidden Puppies
Williamson could tell the mama wanted help, but fear kept holding her back.
That night, temperatures were expected to drop to 19 degrees, and the thought of tiny puppies left outside in the freezing cold filled Williamson with worry.
When the dog wandered away, Williamson decided to follow, hoping she’d lead her to her litter. But before she could catch up, the mama disappeared.
While searching, she came across another stray named Tilly with her puppies. She called her mother, who was an experienced rescuer, and together they brought that little family to safety.
Even so, Williamson couldn’t stop thinking about the Kroger dog. She posted her photo in a local Facebook group, asking if anyone had seen her. Locals shared that the dog had been spotted around the area for years.
Although she didn’t find the mama that night, she prayed she and her babies would make it through the cold snap.
A couple of days later, her phone buzzed with an update.
“A day or two later, someone commented on the Facebook post I made saying they had seen Kroger Dog that afternoon playing with her puppies by a shed. The shed coincidentally was right near the area where we had rescued Tilly just days prior,” Williamson told The Dodo.
Finally Bringing The Puppies To Safety
Williamson and her mom hurried to the shed. Peeking underneath, they spotted three curious little faces staring back at them.
The puppies, later named Crosby, Nash, and Stills, were frightened at first, but with gentle coaxing, they crawled out of hiding.
The women scooped them up and carried them to safety.
Though it hurt to separate them from their mom, Williamson knew she couldn’t leave them there. The temperatures were dropping again, and the puppies were far too vulnerable. She also worried someone with bad intentions might find them after seeing her Facebook post.
At first, the pups were anxious in their new environment. But with plenty of love and gentle care, their fears melted away. Soon they were bounding around playfully, showing off their goofy personalities.
“We think they were probably around 4 to 5 weeks old when I found them, and they were growing like WEEDS. They are going to be huge, fluffy boys,” Williamson added.
Friends of Homeless Animals of RI (FOHA) stepped in to help and placed Crosby, Nash, and Stills in foster homes in New England, where they’ll soon meet their forever families.
While the puppies are safe and thriving, their mother is still out there. Williamson and her mom visit her daily, patiently trying to earn her trust.
Their greatest wish is to bring her in, so she can finally experience the love and security she’s always deserved.
Until that day comes, the little family’s story serves as a reminder of the resilience of dogs—and the determination of the people who refuse to give up on them.