Starbursts

Christmas Eve is a night that some people wait all year for. It is filled with expectation and joy. But on that night of promise and happiness, something horrible was discovered in the Inland Empire of Southern California: an abandoned crate on the side of the road, crammed full of starving, helpless puppies.

In the desert where the puppies were found, it was a mere 19 degrees on Christmas Eve. Who knows how long the puppies had waited that day and night, huddled together in their crate. They curled together, slowly losing strength hour by hour, as they waited for a rescuer, or worse, to come claim them.

Who would claim them: a rescuer or death?

A rescuer came. And just in time.

Our rescue partner received the call that a Good Samaritan had passed by the suspicious crate and stopped at it on Christmas Eve – just to make sure all was well. They were surprised to find the five male and two female shepherd-blend puppies crowded inside. Instead of the joy that healthy puppies display at seeing a new face, these puppies barely moved. They were exhausted beyond belief and starving.

Our rescue partner received them and immediately took great care in giving them food and water. These puppies, now saved, still might not live. They needed medical care if they were to survive, and that was not something our rescue partner could provide for them. We got a phone call asking if we could provide the medical care this abandoned litter needed; we immediately agreed to this emergency medical case and the puppies were promptly transferred to Helen Woodward Animal Center.

When the puppies arrived, they still had not fully recuperated from their ordeal. They were still exhausted and weak, barely lifting their heads to greet and sniff at staff and volunteers. Staff watched them carefully as the days passed by, caring for their needs, changing bedding and giving them nourishing meals.

Day by day the puppies began to grow stronger. We were very encouraged by their progress! Despite their progress, kennel space was now needed for other medical cases that were coming in each week. We asked our dedicated corps of volunteer foster families to see if anyone else had space to take the puppies in until they were old enough for their surgeries and we were not let down.

Each puppy now has a loving, temporary foster family until the time is ready for them to receive their surgeries and begin looking for forever families.

Keep an eye on the website for the ‘Starbursts’ – they will begin looking for homes soon.

See more success stories like this