She eventually found a rocky spot that formed a kind of natural cave.
At first, it seemed like the perfect place to have her litter. But what the new mum didn't know was that a dangerous storm was threatening the area.
A race against time
Water threatened to seep in and flood the entire cave. Fortunately, the landowner had noticed the stray dog. She had also heard the mother's barks and the puppies' cries, so she contacted the Faith Easdale rescue centre to report the situation.
Rescuers immediately grasped the seriousness of the situation: there was a real risk of flooding, posing a grave danger to the dogs' lives. As the rescuers approached the cave, the mother dog poked her head out to greet them. She was starving and gladly accepted the treats they offered. But once the mum was safe, her little ones still needed to be rescued. The team had to crawl under the rocks to retrieve all five puppies.
A new beginning
To be absolutely sure they hadn't left any puppies behind, the rescuers dug into the earth to double-check the count. And it worked: there were no puppies hidden underground, so they could leave with peace of mind. The team immediately took the family to the vet for a check-up. The dogs spent several weeks at the clinic regaining their strength.
Then, the team from Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, Arizona, took over their care. The rescuers named the mother dog Terra and her puppies: Eco, Earth, Bamboo, Recycle, and Solar. They even took part in a wellness event called 'Puppies, Pilates and Prosecco' and are now looking for their forever homes.
