Driving through rural Mississippi earlier this month, Carlin Curtis noticed movement along the roadside. Pulling over, she spotted a thin dog curled protectively around three tiny puppies in the dirt and rocks. It was clear the little family had been abandoned and left to fend for themselves.
Curtis, an independent rescue partner with Wright-Way Rescue, knew immediately she couldn’t leave them there.
The mama dog — later named Sugar — seemed to sense that help had finally arrived. With a mixture of eagerness and relief, she walked straight to Curtis, tail wagging weakly.
Curtis offered her food, which Sugar devoured — nourishment she desperately needed as a nursing mother. One by one, Curtis gently placed the puppies into a plastic tub she keeps in her car for roadside rescues.
Only after her babies were safe and her belly was full did Sugar allow herself to rest. She curled up in the back seat and, for the first time in who knows how long, drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.
“She just seemed to let go once she knew they were all safe,” Curtis said.
Thankfully, the entire family was healthy enough to go directly into foster care. It didn’t take long for Sugar’s foster family to fall in love — and they decided to adopt her permanently.
Her puppies — now named Bailey, Bree, and Burt — were soon transferred to Wright-Way Rescue’s medical campus in Southern Illinois.
At just 2 months old, they are playful, full of energy, and have hearty appetites. “Bailey seems to possibly be a bit more timid,” said JeriLynn Burks, director of development at Wright-Way Rescue, “but they all have that wild puppy enthusiasm.”
The pups have already been spayed and neutered, and after their short recovery period, they’ll receive vaccinations and join other puppies for play and socialization.
Once they’re 16 weeks old and fully vaccinated, they’ll be ready for walks, outdoor adventures, and, eventually, their forever homes.
As for Sugar, she’s thriving with her new family — finally able to enjoy the simple comforts of food, rest, and love.
If you’d like to support Wright-Way Rescue or even meet Bailey, Bree, or Burt, you can learn more through the organization’s website.
