It began as what seemed like a straightforward mission, a mother dog with her litter in need of help. The Missouri rescuer stepped in, expecting the task to be quick and uncomplicated.
The mama dog stood waiting with quiet patience, her puppies gathered close at her side. There was no chaos, only a silent plea hidden beneath her hopeful eyes.
The rescuer fastened the leash and began leading them away.
Just as she prepared to leave, something caught her attention.
A faint movement stirred behind a crate, revealing a tiny puppy that had been overlooked. Smaller, weaker, and struggling, this little one had not been counted among the rest.
What had started as a routine rescue suddenly became something far deeper, a moment that carried unexpected weight and meaning.
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.
