Every dog deserves boundless affection and care. That’s the vow we make to them the moment they are welcomed into our lives.
The reality that numerous unkind proprietors abandon this vow breaks my heart. They leave their defenseless dogs behind without a trace of guilt.
The tale that follows concerns six vulnerable little pups who were forsaken by their family, left to struggle for survival. Stuffed into a suitcase, they faced the ticking clock.
Fortunately, compassionate individuals intervened and saved them.
Here’s their tale.
Running Out Of Time
In October 2022, two officers from the Tampa Police Department noticed a dog anxiously running around with her puppy outside a local rental property.
To assist them, they apprehended the dogs and transported them to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.
Later that same day, the officers returned to the same neighborhood to conduct further inquiries. While searching outside the holiday rental, they heard whimpering sounds.
They then came to the realization that the sounds were emanating from a pink suitcase they observed nearby.
Upon quickly opening it, they were left heartbroken at the sight of six tiny squealing puppies.
The officers were uncertain how the puppies had come to be in the suitcase, but they felt immense relief to have arrived just in time to save them.
“It’s appalling. I can’t fathom why someone would do something like this,” remarked Sherry Silk, CEO of Humane Society of Tampa Bay.
After reviewing the day’s events, the officers connected the dots and realized that the earlier rescued dog was the puppies’ mother. They then understood why the mother appeared so distressed as she roamed the area.
She was petrified of losing her pups. She saved their lives. Had her frantic behavior not caught the officers’ attention, they likely wouldn’t have suspected anything was amiss.
In Safe Hands
The adorable pups were brought to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Overjoyed, they reunited with their loving mother, who awaited them alongside their sibling. They cuddled with her, feeling a wave of relief to be in her embrace once more.
The puppies continued healing at the nursery while their mother, later named Dora, was able to recuperate.
The pups, together with their mother, underwent a thorough medical examination and were estimated to be five weeks old.
During their recovery, the adorable pups captivated the hearts of all the staff members who showered them with affection and cuddles.
The sibling puppies were constantly playing, enjoying the time of their lives at the shelter.
The staff members had the privilege of naming the pups. They were now called Della, Daisy, Diana, Dawson, David, Diego, and Dana.
A Life Filled With Joy
Once the puppies reached eight weeks of age, they were prepared to depart from the shelter. Numerous adoption applications began pouring in. One of the first to be adopted was Della, who found a loving home in Tampa, Florida.
Before long, all of the remaining puppies transitioned to their
We are thrilled to witness these puppies finding caring families who cherish them and fill their lives with happiness. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the two officers from the Tampa Police Department for rescuing them.
It is utterly incomprehensible that any person could place these helpless puppies or any other creature into a suitcase and forsake them. To contemplate what their fate would have been had the police officers not acted swiftly is heart-wrenching.
Fortunately, these puppies achieved their happy endings, yet countless other dogs await their chance for fortune to smile upon them.
The shelter intake rates soar year after year. In 2022, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay took in 14,464 animals for care. (1)
If you are contemplating adding a dog to your family, consider visiting your nearest animal shelter and meeting the many pups who are eagerly awaiting to leap into the affectionate embrace of their new or foster parents.
Let’s not let them down.
References:
1. Humane Society of Tampa, Intake Statistics, 2013-2022, accessed on Aug. 18, 2023, https://humanesocietytampa.org/