Two months ago, staff members at a construction waste landfill spotted a heavily pregnant dog wandering around the premises.
“The employees at the ticket office had noticed her just kind of roaming around, looking hungry,” Nancy Cowan, Three Little Pitties Rescue board member and volunteer, told The Dodo.
Unfortunately, the landfill is a common dumping ground for dogs, especially pregnant ones, so the staff are used to caring for abandoned pups until help arrives. They put out food for the pregnant pup, but didn’t see her again for a little while.
“She disappeared for a couple of days, then eventually showed up much thinner,” Cowan said. “So we knew she had had puppies somewhere.”
Cowan began looking around everywhere for the mama and her babies, knowing they were going to need support. Cowan knew that mama dogs typically like to seek shelter under dumpsters, where they can protect their newborn puppies, so she started her search there.
“I spotted a dumpster that had high grass growing around it and a little beaten path going under it,” Cowan said. “So that was my clue.”
Sure enough, there was the mama, guarding her babies. At first, she was too terrified to let Cowan get anywhere near her. Cowan spent a few days feeding her and gaining her trust. Once the dog was finally comfortable, she let Cowan near her babies.
A rescue team came soon after and transferred the dogs to a nursery, where they could all recover in a safe, peaceful environment.
In the two months since their rescue, the mama, named Lucy, has been getting all the pampering she deserves. On Mother’s Day, Lucy was even served breakfast in bed. Once she’s spayed, she’ll be available for adoption.
“She is one grateful mama and we are grateful to be a part of her journey,” Three Little Pitties Rescue wrote on Instagram.
As for the puppies, they are all weaned and ready to be adopted. One has already been chosen by a forever family, and the remaining five, named Teddy, Cleo, Sadie, Rusty and Willow, are ready to be taken home anytime.
“The puppies are flourishing,” Cowan said.
It’s a happy ending for the family of seven. From living under a dumpster to getting the royal treatment every day, their lives are unrecognizable.
