There are very few things a dedicated dog rescuer wouldn’t do for a four-legged furball in need. Donna Lochmann, a long-time Missouri rescuer, is definitely one of them!

In all her years helping abandoned and stray dogs, Donna has faced many challenges. 

From dogs being trapped in the worst kinds of places to being cruelly abandoned on the streets – she has witnessed it all.

Still, there are things that leave even this kind-hearted hero speechless, such as this desperate canine family struggling in a dilapidated house.

They Struggled On A Pile Of Trash

It’s always heartbreaking to see a dog struggling to survive in inhumane conditions, let alone an entire family. 

So when Donna and her Stray Rescue of St. Louis team from Missouri received a call about a mom dog living in an abandoned house, they immediately sprang into action.

“We walk in the entryway, where a front door used to be. We see a mama dog, staring at us. She barks, her ribs and spine showing, and runs out the back door,” SRSL wrote in a YouTube video.

What they didn’t know at the time was how decayed the house was.

As soon as they approached the front door, they saw huge piles of trash and rotten debris. The team had to move slowly, as there were nails scattered across the floor. 

Although there was no light, Donna could hear helpless cries coming from the basement. The only problem was that the wooden stairs leading there were nearly crumbling! 

That didn’t stop Donna from going down anyway. At one point, she even fell through but managed to somehow cling to the wall and hop down into the pitch-black basement. 

And, there it was – a truly heartbreaking sight!

Five teeny-tiny pups were hiding in the corners, trying to stay away from unfamiliar strangers.

They looked scared, yet they didn’t budge when Donna tried to gently scoop them up and put them in crates. The only problem was that their mom was nowhere to be found. She was so terrified of humans that she still refused to be rescued.

However, when she heard her babies scream and whine – she immediately ran to the basement. That’s when the team realized what a wonderful mother she was!

Finally, The Rescue

With the puppies safe and sound, the only thing left for Donna and her fellow rescuers was to secure their momma. They didn’t want to leave the place without her, even though she was hard to catch.

With two other volunteers as backup, the team thought of a plan.

They cornered the mother and placed a leash around her neck. Since there was no way for her to walk out on a leash on her own, the team prepared a large crate, passing it to each other until the exit.

Finally, both the mom and her babies were safely loaded into the car and transported to the SRSL office.

You’re Safe Now

Reuniting the momma, later named Mary Berry, with her five babies, was a rewarding scene to witness. 

Although still quite traumatized, Mary was so relieved to see her babies crawling up to her, finding ultimate comfort next to their momma.

“We get them set up in one of our offices with comfy blankets, bowls of food, and fresh water. We reunite this little family, and it is the sweetest moment. We face so much heartbreak in rescue, but this is a good day worth celebrating,” SRSL added in the post.

The pups, named Stodgy, Shortbread, Sponge, Showstopper, and Soggy Bottom – along with Mary, will remain in care until they’re ready to be adopted.

For now, the family will enjoy some cozy time far away from that decayed house and trash. Instead, they will receive TLC and some delicious food, getting a taste of what their life should be about.

When the time is right, all these doggos will be matched with suitable families and undoubtedly make excellent companions!

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Source: New York Post