Having a pet should be a lifelong commitment, yet it appears not everyone shares this sentiment. Regardless of how much the shelters strive to embrace everyone with kindness and provide support, certain people still resort to the disgraceful act of abandonment.
Why? It’s a mystery I believe I will never comprehend.
In Ridgeway, Virginia, rescuers were completely astonished when they discovered not one, not two, or even three puppies abandoned, but an astonishing ELEVEN.
Two separate litters of pups were discarded on the roadside, left to survive on their own.
If it hadn’t been for kind-hearted rescuers, who can say what fate might have befallen these unfortunate little ones.
Abandoned And Starving In The Woods
According to a Facebook update from the Henry County Animal Shelter in Virginia, their officers got a call on March 5, 2024, about a litter of puppies running on the road in Ridgeway.
A few hours later, they received another alert concerning a separate litter of puppies just a mile away.
“These two distinct litters deep within the woods scavenging for sustenance. Merely 1 mile apart from one another. Coincidence? We think not,” stated the Henry County Animal Shelter in their post.
The puppies were frightened, famished, and left to survive alone. The animal officers dedicated an entire day rescuing a total of eleven puppies that were roaming the vicinity in search of food.
The German Shepherd puppies were in dire condition – infested with ticks, undernourished, and some tested positive for worms and parasites.
After the rescue, two puppies were adopted while the remaining nine were transferred to Virginia German Shepherd Rescue, which had numerous foster homes arranged for these frightened puppies.
Six puppies were placed into one foster home, two were sent to another, and one puppy found a home at a third location.
Everything appeared to be proceeding smoothly, but soon the shelter faced one piece of bad news after another.
Fighting To Save Lives
Only days after their arrival at their foster homes, five puppies tested positive for parvovirus and had to be hospitalized. If neglected, parvo can be deadly for dogs.
“If you end up receiving a dog that contracts Parvo, it’s going to be vomiting, experiencing diarrhea, and needs to go into emergency care continuously, alongside lots of dehydration treatments and pain medications. They must be fed intravenously for nutrients since they’re unable to eat. It’s immense day-to-day care,” Monja Vadnais, a volunteer and foster with Virginia German Shepherd Rescue, shared with WDBJ7.
It was an incredibly challenging few days, filled with prayers and hopes for their survival.
The primary focus now is to nurture them back to wellness, assisting them in gaining weight and restoring their strength. Hopefully, only happiness and wagging tails lie ahead.
Once the puppies are fully healthy, they will be ready for adoption through Virginia rescue.
Despite their efforts to uncover who might be responsible for this horrific act of animal cruelty, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office regrettably could not identify the culprit.
“If you’re going to possess pets, it’s essential to be accountable. They require proper care. They ought to be treated more like a family member rather than just an animal to be discarded in the woods. Please do not abandon your pets,” Sheriff Wayne Davis from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office told WDBJ7.