As icy winds swept through St. Louis last week, most residents stayed indoors, waiting out the snow and freezing rain.
But a team from Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) was out walking block after block, searching for a pregnant stray who had suddenly vanished.
“Neighbors said they've been feeding a pregnant dog for a while, but she disappeared last week,” the rescue shared online.
Under normal circumstances, that would be worrying enough. But with inches of snow, sleet, and dangerous temperatures blanketing the city, rescuers feared the worst. They suspected she’d given birth somewhere nearby — possibly inside one of the many abandoned houses lining the street.
So they started checking.
Led by veteran rescuer Donna Lochmann, the team stepped into the first vacant home, unsure of what they’d find.
Almost immediately, they saw her.
A pair of watchful eyes stared back from across the room. The mama dog was tucked beneath a piece of furniture — and she wasn’t alone.
“She was in the first one we searched!” SRSL wrote.
As rescuers moved closer, low warning growls filled the space. Their suspicions were confirmed: She had delivered her puppies and was fiercely guarding them.
“Mama was sooo good protecting her little ones,” SRSL shared. “She loves people but was unsure of our intentions.”
And who could blame her? She had five fragile, week-old babies depending on her — in an abandoned house with no heat.
Lochmann crouched down and spoke gently, her voice calm and reassuring. Though wary, the exhausted mother — later named Jackie Frost — allowed a slip lead to be placed around her neck. Trusting just enough, she followed the team out to safety.
Then came the tiny miracles.
One by one, Lochmann carefully gathered the newborn puppies into her arms. They were unbelievably small, their eyes barely open, completely vulnerable to the bitter cold.
“They are just a week old,” SRSL wrote. “She must have had them a day or two before Thanksgiving.”
You can see more footage from the rescue here:
Within minutes, the entire little family was loaded into a warm vehicle and driven to SRSL headquarters. Instead of cracked floors and freezing drafts, Jackie Frost and her babies were welcomed with soft blankets, quiet surroundings, and full bellies.
“They are safe now and soaking up all the warm blankets,” the rescue shared. “Mama just wants to show off her babies and give us hugs.”
That night, for the first time, the devoted mother slept peacefully in warmth.
Soon after, a kind supporter named Randy Morgan stepped forward to foster Jackie Frost and her puppies. The transformation was immediate.
In photos shared by the rescue, Jackie’s gratitude was unmistakable — her once-tense body finally relaxed as her puppies nestled safely beside her.
You can see that moment here:
But the story didn’t end there.
After ensuring the family was settled, Lochmann returned to the neighborhood and located the puppies’ father as well. He, too, was brought into rescue and placed in foster care.
What began as a search for one missing dog ended with seven lives saved.
Now, Jackie Frost and her little ones are growing stronger each day in foster care, surrounded by warmth and love instead of snow and silence. In time, each puppy — and their brave mama — will find permanent homes.
Until then, the rescuers who refused to give up on a missing stray continue to celebrate every update, every new photo, every tiny milestone.
“She is an angel!” SRSL wrote.
And thanks to a determined team who ventured out into the storm, that angel — and her five precious babies — are safe.
To help pups like Jackie Frost get the care they need, you can donate to Stray Rescue of St. Louis here.
