One evening, we received a frantic call that would change the course of our week—and possibly our lives. The caller reported that 18 dogs had been abandoned in a crumbling house on the outskirts of the city. Among them was a mother dog who had just given birth to a litter of fragile, newborn puppies. As animal rescuers, we’re no strangers to heartbreaking scenes, but nothing could have fully prepared us for what we were about to find.
The house was barely standing. It had no electricity, no running water, and the air inside was thick with the scent of mold, filth, and despair. We stepped over broken furniture and piles of trash to reach the dogs. Huddled in a dark corner, we found the mother dog curled protectively around her puppies. Her body trembled with exhaustion, yet she was alert—her eyes followed our every movement, filled with both fear and hope. The weather outside was getting worse by the hour, and this fragile family didn’t have much time left.
Despite her condition, the mother dog—whom we later named Serena—was fiercely devoted to her babies. We could see that she had moved them multiple times within the ruins of the house, seeking out dry, safer spots to shield them from the cold and the growing dampness. She was emaciated, with her ribs clearly visible, but she never once left their side. She had sacrificed everything to keep her pups alive.
It didn’t take long for the gravity of the situation to become painfully clear. Serena was deteriorating. Her body could no longer keep up with the demands of nursing so many puppies. She was visibly ill—barely able to hold herself upright, her legs quivering under her frail frame. Tragically, six of the puppies didn’t make it through the night. We found them lifeless, nestled against Serena’s warm body. She nuzzled them gently, refusing to leave them until we intervened.
Knowing there was no time to lose, we gathered Serena and her remaining eleven puppies and rushed them to our veterinary clinic. The vets worked quickly, running blood tests and conducting full physical exams. The results were devastating: Serena was suffering from dehydration, severe anemia, and had tested positive for Ehrlichia—a tick-borne disease that can be fatal if left untreated. She was placed on intensive care and required round-the-clock monitoring for at least three days.
Even while in such pain, Serena’s focus never wavered. She constantly watched over her puppies, licking them, adjusting their position so they’d be warm and comfortable. She refused to eat until her puppies had been fed. It was a powerful reminder of the incredible strength and selflessness that a mother can embody, even in her weakest moments. Her devotion was pure, unbreakable, and utterly moving.
Our team took shifts to stay with Serena through the nights. We fed her by hand when she had no strength left to eat, cleaned and bottle-fed the puppies, and kept them wrapped in warm blankets. The nights were long and filled with uncertainty. There were moments when we feared we might lose her, and with her, the hope for her puppies’ survival. But Serena continued to fight. And slowly, she began to respond to treatment.
Each small sign of improvement felt monumental—her eyes becoming a little clearer, her appetite gradually returning, and the puppies latching on more eagerly during feedings. The emotional rollercoaster was intense. Our hearts ached watching her struggle, yet every small step forward brought us to tears. It was a constant battle against time, infection, and fatigue—but Serena’s spirit never gave up, and neither did we.
Over the next several days, something extraordinary began to happen. Serena’s condition steadily improved. The anemia was still a concern, but her hydration levels stabilized, and her fever broke. Most importantly, her maternal instincts remained sharp, guiding her through the healing process as she nurtured her remaining puppies. We watched her regain her strength bit by bit, from lifting her head to eventually standing and walking again.
The puppies thrived under her watchful eye and our constant support. We weighed them daily, ensured their environment remained clean and warm, and supplemented their nutrition. They began opening their eyes, making soft squeaks, and even wagging their tiny tails. The room that once echoed with worry now pulsed with life and cautious optimism.
It would be weeks before we could consider them out of danger, but each day brought more hope. Serena, once at death’s door, became a symbol of perseverance and unconditional love. Her story reached beyond our rescue center, touching volunteers, donors, and animal lovers who followed her progress. People sent supplies, offered foster homes, and even shared their own stories of rescue and resilience, inspired by her journey.
This experience reminded us why we do what we do. In a world often filled with cruelty and neglect, there are moments—like this one—that reaffirm the power of compassion. Serena’s story is not just one of survival; it’s a story of a mother’s courage, of the fight for life even when the odds seem insurmountable, and of the community that comes together when love calls.
As we look back on that night—the night we received the call—we now see more than just a rescue. We see a transformation. We see eleven puppies who got a second chance. We see Serena, not as a victim, but as a fighter, a mother, a hero. And we see ourselves, more committed than ever to rescuing animals who have no voice and no home, but who, like Serena, have endless love to give.
