Encountering an abandoned puppy is always a heartbreaking experience. Discovering an entire litter struggling to survive is even more difficult.
Sadly, many young pups are discarded by irresponsible owners every year. Left on their own, weak and unprotected, their chances of survival are very low.
One such tragedy unfolded in Alabama, where a man came across six tiny pups who were barely hanging on. Motherless, sick, and suffering from severe mange, they would not have made it much longer without help.
A Fragile Litter Found In The Woods
A kindhearted man was driving to work when he noticed something moving in the nearby woods. When he stopped to look, he was stunned to see six small, hairless creatures shaking and clinging to one another.
At first glance, he could not even tell whether they were dogs. Their skin was pink, inflamed, and completely bare, giving them a wild appearance.
With no mother around, he understood that they were in danger. He gathered the pups carefully and brought them to a shelter in Sylacauga, Alabama, where staff immediately provided warmth, food, and initial care.
Yet their condition was more severe than the shelter could handle. The puppies were extremely weak, battling advanced mange, and in urgent need of veterinary treatment.
Rescuers Race To Save Them
When Jaquie Cobb from Second City Canine Rescue in Illinois saw the shelter’s desperate request for help, she and her team responded right away.
“They were abandoned in the woods when they were too young to be away from their mother,” SCCR wrote.
Because the pups were so tiny and hairless, the team could not determine their breed. They assumed the litter belonged to a small dog breed, possibly Cocker Spaniels.
Each pup weighed only about five pounds, reinforcing the belief that they were from a smaller lineage.
The litter was transported to Auburn Veterinary College for intensive treatment, where veterinarians confirmed they had sarcoptic mange.
Their condition was so severe that, according to SCCR’s Nicole Zaguroli, the smell alone required staff to wear masks while bathing them.
Through consistent medicated baths and proper nutrition, the puppies slowly improved. As little curls began to appear, rescuers suspected they might be Poodle mixes, but no one felt certain.
The Truth Behind Their Breed
To end the mystery, a DNA test was performed. The results shocked everyone.
All six puppies were purebred Great Pyrenees.
The revelation made perfect sense once they started to gain weight and develop thick, fluffy white coats. In only a few weeks, the once unrecognizable pups began to resemble the large livestock guardian dogs they truly were.
The puppies soon moved into foster homes, where they learned social skills, manners, and what it meant to live safely indoors.
Within a few months, their transformation was complete. They grew stronger, livelier, and ready for adoption. Each one eventually found a loving family eager to welcome a Great Pyrenees into their home.
Now thriving, the pups are steadily growing toward their expected adult weight of nearly 100 pounds.
Despite their harsh beginning, they remain affectionate, playful, and full of joy. Their journey shows how powerful a second chance can be, even for the most fragile lives.
