Imagine taking a casual walk in your neighborhood when a faint sound nearby catches your attention. You follow the noise and, to your surprise, discover a box filled with seven tiny puppies.
That’s exactly what happened to a woman in San Antonio, Texas, as she walked past a local business and was startled by the noise enough to investigate.
Inside, small puppy eyes peeked out through a hole in the box, silently pleading for help.
A Scene She Never Expected
When she opened the box, she found seven puppies trapped inside. They had apparently been left there overnight and were struggling to breathe.
A heavy water hose had been placed on top of the box to keep them from escaping. To get air, the desperate puppies used their snouts to nudge the box open slightly.
Fortunately, the woman who found them was a rescue volunteer. Without hesitation, she set out to get the puppies the help they needed.
She called every animal shelter she could find in San Antonio, but sadly, none were able to assist.
A post on Facebook states: Every single shelter and rescue was stretched too thin; no one could commit to feeding 7 more mouths. She was told the only option was to have them euthanized somewhere.
Unwilling to accept that fate, the woman kept searching for help.
Running out of options, she reached out to Tattered Paws And Golden Hearts Rescue (TPGHR). Even though they were already stretched, she felt it was worth trying.
A Chance At Recovery
When Nancy Rieley, president of TPGHR, saw the puppies, she was deeply affected. She said: It’s an awful feeling looking at seven little puppies and being the reason that they live or die.
Thankfully, Nancy agreed to take them in and give them the care they needed while they waited for permanent homes.
The puppies, a mixed breed, were estimated to be around four to five weeks old. There were two females and five males. TPGHR confirmed the pups would receive all necessary medical care.
The woman who rescued them is now fostering the puppies through TPGHR. Although they still have a long way to go before finding forever homes, they’re finally getting the care they desperately needed.
It’s heartbreaking to think what might have happened had the woman not stopped that day.
At the same time, it’s a comfort to know that groups like Tattered Paws and Golden Hearts exist, giving abandoned animals a second chance at life.