Jeanette Unruh is always on the lookout for animals in need. As a Mississippi-based animal advocate with Sweet Paws Rescue, the dog lover is often contacted about lost or abandoned pets near her home in Macon.
When Unruh recently heard about a group of
puppies abandoned in a rural area nearby, she quickly mobilized. Over the course of a few days, she managed to track down the tiny family. There they were, just off the side of the road, four puppies shivering together on a scrap of cardboard.
Unruh didn’t have any trouble catching the pups. In fact, they practically leapt into her arms.
“They all came running towards her,” a rescue representative told The Dodo. “This behavior is common for puppies who have been handled by humans at an early age. They were not scared of her at all.”
The rescuer took all of the dogs to a foster home, where they could recuperate as she prepared her own home for their arrival. She also brought them to a veterinarian, who provided necessary vaccinations and medical care.
Unruh named the pups Ryba, Sadie, Lilac and Arch. She watched in awe as they transformed into the happiest dogs.
“The puppies have sweet and fun personalities!” the representative said. “They love to play, eat and make a mess!”
Once they’re old enough, the pups will travel to the Sweet Paws Rescue facility in Massachusetts, where they’ll be cared for by a team of volunteers until they find their forever families.
Rescuers encourage community members to spay and neuter their pets, as this is one of the best ways to combat the animal overpopulation crisis in the area. They insist that pet owners who need to surrender an animal make the ethical choice by speaking with a local shelter, rather than abandoning a pet on the side of the road.
“Dumping animals is never the solution,” the representative said. “The overpopulation of homeless animals is growing, and it will take everyone’s participation to make a difference.”
Thanks to the efforts of all these animal lovers, these puppies will soon be safe in loving homes.
