On a warm October afternoon near Penny Road Pond in Barrington, Illinois, the air was buzzing with birdsong and frog croaks.
The peaceful forest preserve looked as serene as ever — until officers from the Cook County Forest Preserves Police Department spotted something unusual by the water’s edge.
Several small, furry shapes were piled together, barely distinguishable from one another. At first glance, they looked like one strange, shifting creature.
But as the officers crept closer, the truth became heartbreakingly clear: 15 tiny dogs, their bodies lost under heavy mats of filthy, tangled fur, were huddled together for comfort.
Unsure how the pups ended up there, officers suspected they’d been abandoned along the nearby road. The little dogs were terrified, silent, and clinging to one another. Cook County Animal and Rabies Control (ARC) quickly stepped in to help.
Loading the pups into the transport van wasn’t difficult — they were too frightened to run. They simply stayed together, relying on the only safety they knew: each other.
When ARC delivered them to South Suburban Humane Society, the shelter staff immediately went into “all hands on deck” mode.
“Honestly … it was a very bad smell,” marketing manager Jeremy Manthey told The Dodo. The dogs were exhausted and overwhelmed, so staff let them rest overnight. They kept them in groups of five with soft blankets — a small comfort after everything they’d endured.
By morning, the blankets, walls, and floors were smeared with dirt and grime the pups had carried on their matted coats.
Staff trimmed fur around their eyes and mouths so they could see and eat. Each dog appeared to be a tiny Shih Tzu mix, some weighing barely 5 pounds, all between 2 and 6 years old.
Because their mats were dangerously large — some bigger than a tennis ball — grooming them awake could cause panic or injury. So vets waited a few days before sedating the pups for safe, gentle shaving and bathing, combining the process with their spay/neuter surgeries.
When the fur finally came off, the transformation was astonishing.
Suddenly lighter, cleaned, and freshly groomed, the dogs seemed to breathe easier. Some shivered in the cool air, unsure what to do with their newfound freedom. Others, still timid, remained near the door. But many looked noticeably brighter — like they could finally imagine a different kind of life.
Each pup was given a name beginning with “B,” for Barrington.
Nearby shelter Tiny N Tall Rescue stepped in to help, taking 10 of the pups into foster care.
“Our foster homes are just giving them ample time to decompress,” medical director Shelby Golonka said. “They’re learning to explore the world and be the dogs they were meant to be.”
Both rescues quickly realized how deeply the dogs depended on each other.
“Some are more scared than others,” Golonka said. “We actually have our more scared ones in foster homes with one of the more confident ones from the group, so they can kind of lean on each other and find comfort in familiar dogs.”
The bravest pups helped comfort the most fearful, so both organizations now require the dogs to be adopted in pairs or placed in homes with another dog.
Despite everything they endured, the pups are blossoming. Fosters report they’re enjoying affection, seeking out cuddles, and giving lots of kisses — a sign of just how much love they have left to give.
Their past may be a mystery, but their future is full of hope.
If you’re interested in adopting one of these pups, contact South Suburban Humane Society or Tiny N Tall Rescue.
