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After discovering a family of dogs in need of help, Jane MacMurchy, operations director of Animal Charity of Ohio, a nonprofit humane society, arrived at the address to find a mother and her two puppies living in filth.
The little family had learned to depend entirely on each other because it was obvious that the owners were not taking care of the them.
“They were living in terrible conditions,” MacMurchy said. “It was a good 6 to 8 inches of debris in a makeshift pen, and [the puppies] were completely unsocialized.”
The owners handed over Lady, a 7-year-old mother dog, and her 5-month-old puppies, Peaches and Layla, to the rescuers, who hurried the canines to the shelter.
The puppies were pretty healthy, according to a vet’s examination, but they lacked self-assurance and had no clue what to do when their mother wasn’t there to guide them. MacMurchy was heartbroken to witness Peaches and Layla consoling one another in the shelter.
“We were doing the vaccinations and the wellness check, and Mom finished first. We were walking her out into our intake area, and the puppies, without mom, latched on to each other because they were so scared,” MacMurchy said.
The little family is living together at the shelter, where they’re learning what it means to be safe.
“We give them time multiple times a day to just relax and get some TLC in a quiet room with a staff member so they can learn how to trust,” MacMurchy added.
“They do much better when their mother is around, so we work with all three together, as well as individually. It’s a slow process, but they are learning how to be confident on their own.”
Just a few days after being rescued, Lady is already comfortable living alone and is anxious to socialize and go for walks. However, for her two puppies, the socialization process is going to take a bit longer.
The puppies will hopefully go to a home together when Peaches and Layla are finally ready for adoption. Not only will they receive hugs from each other there, but also from their loving family.
