Loyal Mama Dog Guides Rescuer To Hidden Litter Of Golden Retriever Puppies

Late last month, Fresno Humane Animal Services animal control officer Priscilla Wolcott responded to a troubling call about abandoned dogs at a vacant home. The report said two adult golden retrievers and a litter of puppies had been left behind after their owners moved out.

When Wolcott arrived, two adult goldens greeted her with wagging tails — one clearly the mother, the other a younger female. Despite having been alone for nearly two weeks, the dogs were friendly and hopeful, a sight that surprised Wolcott given what she found.

“There was no water on the property,” Wolcott told The Dodo. “There was no food on the property.”

What worried her most was that she hadn’t yet seen the puppies. Instead of searching blindly, Wolcott trusted the mother dog and followed her.

“She immediately brought me to where her puppies were,” Wolcott said.

Tucked away in the corner of an old chicken coop was a warm pile of eight golden retriever puppies. Against all odds, their devoted mom had kept them safe, fed and surprisingly plump during the ordeal.

While abandoned golden retrievers aren’t unheard of in Wolcott’s line of work, this situation stood out.

“This was the first time that I had a whole family of golden retrievers abandoned on a property,” she said, suspecting backyard breeding may have been involved.

The dogs seemed to understand that help had arrived. They calmly walked into their crates and eagerly climbed into Wolcott’s vehicle.

“They were immediately jumping all over me like, ‘Take me with you,’” Wolcott said.

@acowolcott

With over a decade in animal control, I’ve learned that purebred dogs are far from rare in shelters. Many come to us neglected or abandoned — sometimes even surrendered by the breeders themselves. It’s a reminder that no breed is protected or immune from irresponsible ownership. No animal deserves to exist solely for the purpose of someone’s financial gain or security. And I will always stand by that. #fypシ #goldenretriever #puppiesoftiktok #animalcontrol #adoptdontshop

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Soon after the rescue, the entire family was transferred to Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue & Sanctuary. There, staff confirmed that the younger adult dog, Kayla, is the 9-month-old daughter of the mama dog, Tabatha.

“The puppies are now five weeks old and showing their true personalities,” Audrey Farrington, Homeward Bound’s board chair, told The Dodo. “Tabatha is a devoted mom who only leaves their side for brief breaks to nap in the sunshine.”

Happily, every member of the golden family — Tabatha, Kayla and all eight puppies — already has an adopter waiting. Before long, they’ll each be settled into loving homes, leaving their days of abandonment far behind.

To help animals like these, donations can be made to Fresno Humane Animal Services and Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue & Sanctuary.