This past August, a group of neighbors in St. Louis, Missouri, noticed a sad dog curled up in an alleyway near their homes.
The Good Samaritans quickly realized the pup wasn’t alone. He was a dad, and his eight puppies were nearby, hidden among rocks and leaves. The mother dog was also hiding in the alleyway, sick and unable to get up. The entire family of 10 had been abandoned here, and they needed help.
Concerned community members contained all of the puppies and began calling local animal rescues for help. Eventually, they connected with Stray Rescue of St. Louis, who dispatched a group of rescuers to the scene.
“When we pulled up, we saw the male dog curled up in a tight ball in the middle of the street,” a representative from Stray Rescue of St. Louis told The Dodo. “This street was off the beaten path and behind some industrial buildings, so it was the perfect place to dump animals and not be seen.”
Rescuers quickly loaded the puppies and mother dog into their car. The dad was a bit more apprehensive, but Stray Rescue of St. Louis team members eventually managed to gain his trust.
“We weren’t going to leave anyone behind,” the representative said.
Safe at the shelter, the dogs settled into comfy beds and got the food and medical attention they needed.
Today, this family is recuperating and beginning to search for their forever families. A few puppies have already been adopted, and the remaining pups are at the shelter or safe with foster parents, waiting to meet their perfect matches.
“We’re so thankful this story has such a happy ending,” Stray Rescue of St. Louis wrote in a Facebook post, “and we’re grateful all the neighbors worked together to help this frightened family!”
