On a chilly Valentine’s Day in Missouri, volunteers from the Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) came across a young pit bull, just two years old, chained to a doghouse amid falling snow and plummeting temperatures.
They immediately set out to help the distressed dog.
Unbeknownst to them, the doghouse held a surprising secret.
As Donna Lochmann and her team approached, they uncovered a litter of tiny puppies tucked under the mother dog’s protective body.
It became clear that this dog had been living outdoors all the time and had given birth right there in the doghouse. Their mission shifted from saving one dog to rescuing seven precious lives.
The team managed to coax the mother dog, who they later named Galentine, away from the doghouse so they could gently carry the puppies to their vehicle.
Despite the risk involved in moving a protective mother’s babies, Galentine seemed to trust the rescuers, understanding their intentions were benevolent.
Once they freed Galentine from her chain, she joined her puppies in the car. Natalie Thomson, SRSL’s chief communications officer, told The Dodo, “She climbed onto our laps in the Jeep and hopped in the back to make sure all her babies were there.”
For the first time, they felt warmth, and the puppies quickly fell asleep.
On the journey to the SRSL headquarters, Galentine seemed relieved and grateful for the warm escape from the cold. Her rescuers shared her sense of relief, knowing they had accomplished something significant.
“We had a huge triumph today,” SRSL announced on Facebook about the successful rescue, “We managed to save Galentine and all her puppies!”
At the shelter, Galentine and her puppies—Serenade, Cherish, Flirt, Arrow, Amour, and Adore—settled comfortably into a welcoming environment filled with soft blankets and nourishing food.
Every visit from staff members was met with the affectionate Galentine lighting up with gratitude.
“She is craving attention and just wants to climb into our laps and shower us with kisses,” SRSL shared. “She’s incredibly grateful. What a caring mom.”
As weeks passed, Galentine’s puppies thrived, growing into strong and healthy little dogs. Galentine was a devoted mother, constantly nursing her puppies until they could eat solid food.
Once ready for adoption, the journey to find their forever homes began.
While the puppies are still in foster care with adoption applications pouring in, Galentine’s dream of a family was realized sooner than expected. On the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day, a family visited SRSL and fell in love with Galentine.
During a large adoption event on Sunday, Galentine found her forever home with this loving family.
Just a holiday before, Galentine and her puppies were struggling in the cold. Now, she had found the family she always wished for, and she settled into her new life with joy.
SRSL staff remain hopeful that her puppies will soon find their own homes. In the meantime, they continue to celebrate the remarkable rescue that bonded this special family.
“At just 2 years old, Galentine is like a baby herself,” SRSL posted on Facebook. “She will never again experience loneliness, cold, fear, or hunger. She is ready to both receive respect and offer endless love in return. She truly matters.”
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