The temperatures were absolutely freezing.
On the 2nd of December, rescuers from Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) were alerted to a pregnant dog wandering the streets with nowhere to go.
A desperate search
The rescuers were extremely worried about her and scoured the neighbourhood in search of her. Then, they decided to follow their instincts. They suspected the dog might have given birth in one of the nearby abandoned houses and went to investigate. As they entered the first derelict house, they breathed a huge sigh of relief when they spotted her hiding under a piece of furniture!
The dog let out little growls. She had just given birth to five small puppies and was letting the rescuers know she was ready to defend them. So, the team spoke to her very gently and affectionately to show they were there to help and meant her no harm.
Building trust
Thanks to the rescuers' patience, the dog, now named Jackie Frost, slowly began to trust them. She let them get closer. They slipped a lead around her neck and guided her to the warmth of their car. The poor puppies were so tiny and fragile, they were barely a week old.
Once they arrived back at the shelter, the rescuers settled Jackie Frost and her little ones into a warm, comfortable bed. That night, the small family was able to sleep safely in a clean, warm place. Thankfully, the dog and her puppies were quickly placed in a foster home where they could properly relax. Everyone is so relieved that the little family is safe and sound, and they can't wait to watch the puppies grow and thrive.
