As the animal welfare manager at Mission Animal Shelter in Mission, Texas, Juliana Martinez Cano is always on the lookout for animals in need.
Recently, Cano was scrolling Facebook when she noticed a post about a group of puppies abandoned in a nearby
cemetery. Cano wanted to help, but, in a frustrating turn of events, she accidentally lost track of the post when her feed updated. She couldn’t find the original post anywhere, but she remembered an important piece of the story — the puppies were in a cemetery, so she’d simply have to start looking.
Cano rallied her rescue team members. They visited the first cemetery on their list and found nothing. But then, as they looked around a second cemetery, they noticed a group of terrified faces among the headstones.
“The puppies were hiding behind a tomb, looking scared and alone,” Cano told The Dodo. “We called out to them, and almost immediately, they came running toward us, looking for affection and comfort. It was clear they were craving human interaction and love.”
Rescuers safely contained the puppies and brought them back to the shelter, where they were treated for fleas and ticks and given plenty of food and water.
Team members were amazed by how quickly the pups adapted to life in care.
“They were surprisingly resilient,” Cano said. “They were playful, friendly and eager for cuddles. It was obvious they didn't understand they had been abandoned. Despite what they had gone through, they still trusted people and wanted attention.”
Mission Animal Shelter staff named the puppies after characters from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” — Dopey, Grumpy, Doc and Sleepy.
It wasn’t long before Sleepy found his perfect match.
The other puppies will remain at the shelter until they find forever homes of their own. One thing is for sure — these pups don’t have to worry about feeling alone ever again.
“They are doing much better now,” Cano said. “They are enjoying being safe and cared for.”
