In August, a group of caring neighbors in St. Louis, Missouri, noticed something small and still in an alleyway — what looked like a little brown ball tucked against the pavement.
But when they stepped closer, their hearts sank.
It wasn’t a ball at all — it was a frightened dog, curled tightly into himself, trying to stay warm and invisible.
Then the neighbors realized he wasn’t alone. Hidden nearby among the weeds, rocks, and trash were eight tiny puppies — and a weak mother dog lying on her side, too sick and exhausted to move. The entire family of ten had been dumped and left to fend for themselves.
Knowing they had to act fast, the neighbors gently gathered the puppies and began calling every animal rescue they could find. Before long, Stray Rescue of St. Louis answered the call and rushed to the scene.
“When we pulled up, we saw the male dog curled up in a tight ball in the middle of the street,” a Stray Rescue representative told The Dodo. “The street was hidden behind industrial buildings — the kind of place where people dump animals because they know they won’t be seen.”
Rescuers carefully loaded the puppies and their mom into their vehicle. The dad, still wary, took a little more convincing — but eventually, he realized these humans had come to help.
“We weren’t going to leave anyone behind,” the rescue said.
Back at the shelter, the family finally got what they’d been denied for so long — warm beds, full bellies, and gentle hands. The puppies began to play. The mom began to rest. And for the first time in a long time, the dad closed his eyes without fear.
Now, this once-forgotten family is thriving. Some of the puppies have already been adopted into loving homes, while the rest — along with their brave parents — continue to heal as they wait for their forever families.
“We’re so thankful this story has such a happy ending,” Stray Rescue wrote on Facebook. “And we’re grateful to the neighbors who refused to walk away. They saved ten lives that day.”
To help more animals like this resilient family, you can donate to Stray Rescue of St. Louis.
