My heart breaks for every dog that gets abandoned by their owners. I simply can’t fathom how someone could wake up one day and decide they no longer want their pet.
Our pets complete our families; they bring a touch of innocence and positivity we often lack in our human lives. Abandoning them is like abandoning your own family – a truly cruel and heartless act.
Thankfully, there are still kind-hearted people and organizations who make caring for abandoned pets their priority.
One such organization is SPCA Westchester, a No-Kill Animal Rescue Center & Humane Law Enforcement agency in Westchester County, NY.
Recently, their volunteers discovered a stressed mama dog and her four pups abandoned in a parking lot – and their kindness changed their lives forever.
A Parking Lot Rescue Mission
The saddest part of this rescue mission is that it was entirely preventable. The mama dog and her puppies were abandoned just outside the SPCA Westchester parking lot, barely 20 feet from the front door.
Instead of cowardly leaving them, the previous owner could have easily approached the front desk, explained their situation, and sought help from the shelter.
Gabrielle, one of the rescuers, recalled the entire mission in an interview, saying:
“Mama had two of her babies tied to her. They were in a small crate. Big puppies. The other two babies were just loose in a cardboard box.”
Gabriella added:
“One of our incredible volunteers was able to use the slip leash and get it around the mom’s head before she had a chance to run off with those babies flying behind her.”
Gabrielle noted that the mom dog was visibly trembling from a mix of terror and confusion.
And how could she not be? The only owner she ever knew cruelly abandoned her at the most vulnerable moment of her life, leaving her to fend for her babies alone.
The whole rescue was recorded and posted on their Instagram profile, reaching over 4 million people.
SPCA Westchester’s volunteers quickly caught the mom and her puppies, bringing them inside the rescue center for a thorough check-up. Thankfully, all were found to be in great health.
They determined that the mom, whom they named Nora, was likely a two or three-year-old Vizsla-Rhodesian mix.
Initially, Nora was scared and confused, but she soon began to warm up to the shelter staff, revealing her loving and affectionate personality.
As for Nora’s pups, once they were deemed healthy and weaned, they were placed into loving foster homes.
Shortly thereafter, the shelter successfully found forever homes for each of them.
Just like that, the parking lot puppies put their difficult pasts behind them, ready to live their best canine lives.
Every Doggo Deserves A Loving Home
Nora, unfortunately, wasn’t as lucky as her babies in finding a forever home.
When it comes to adoption, people tend to gravitate towards puppies, typically overlooking older dogs.
Because of that, and because of Nora’s demeanor which often appeared aggressive and unapproachable, she stayed longer at the shelter, yearning for a family to call her own.
However, the shelter staff knew the truth about Nora’s sweet nature and made it their mission to find her a loving owner.
Gabrielle described her affectionately:
“Nora is this big, goofy moose. Once you do win her over, she’s very sweet, mushy, and affectionate. So, I think if someone is willing to come meet her multiple times, then they’ll really be in for a treat.”
She also added:
“It’s been a real privilege to become her friend and earn her trust.”
I hope someone special comes to SPCA Westchester looking for a dog like Nora – someone patient and kind, ready to respect her pace and discover her amazing personality.
Nora is a wonderful dog who truly deserves the world. To keep up with her journey, I suggest following SPCA Westchester on Instagram.