Two additional pairs of eyes were covertly observing her.
When rescuer Donna Lochmann arrived at an abandoned residence in St. Louis, Missouri, she anticipated encountering a solitary adult dog left behind by its family. The compassionate Samaritan, who had alerted Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL), informed them that the dog had been abandoned when its family moved away.
The house was visibly vacant, and the lone dog stood outside, yet she was not alone. In a matter of seconds, Lochmann discerned the presence of two more sets of eyes peering at her from behind the fence.
"As I approached, I noticed two puppies, roughly 6 to 8 weeks old," recounted Lochmann, SRSL's Chief Life-Saving Officer, in her conversation with The Dodo.
While the mother dog was easily persuaded into her car, capturing the puppies proved to be a more challenging endeavor.
"There was a dug-out area beneath a concrete patio on the other side of the fence, and the puppies kept retreating there," Lochmann explained. "Presumably, that's where they found shelter and safety."
Lochmann extended her arm beneath the patio and, after a few attempts, managed to retrieve the smaller puppy. However, the larger puppy resisted.
"The bigger one was apprehensive about being pulled out," Lochmann shared. "She kept nipping at me with her sharp puppy teeth, but I persisted."
To safeguard her hand, Lochmann donned a thick glove and reinserted her hand into the opening. Eventually, she successfully secured the frightened puppy.
Lochmann then transported the mother dog, whom she named Pumpkin Patch, along with the two puppies named Eckert and Stuckmeyer, to the veterinarian. Thorough examinations confirmed the health of all three dogs, permitting them to be promptly placed into foster care.
Currently, Eckert and Stuckmeyer are under the care of the same foster family, aiding their socialization process despite their residual fear. The presence of friendly adult dogs in their foster household is expected to expedite their adjustment.
"The adult dogs engage the puppies in play and begin teaching them the ropes of canine life," Lochmann elaborated.
Pumpkin Patch has also found solace in a foster home, where she relishes constant affection, ample sustenance, and a cozy bed for rest.
The staff at Stray Rescue of St. Louis will undoubtedly miss Pumpkin Patch and her puppies, yet they derive immense satisfaction from witnessing all three dogs finally embrace the joyful lives they deserve.
"Each of them now has a home and is discovering the comforts of living indoors instead of surviving on the streets," Lochmann remarked. "Their progress is truly heartening."
