Rescuers Find Mama Dog and Puppies Freezing in Doghouse

Temperatures had dropped to single digits, and snow was falling on Valentine’s Day in Missouri when Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) came across Galentine. The young Pit Bull was huddled in a snow-covered doghouse, trying to stay warm where she was living “100% of the time.”

When Donna Lochmann, Chief Lifesaving Officer with SRSL peeked inside, she discovered seven tiny puppies nestled in the straw. With the temperature a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 Celsius), rescuers knew they needed to get the family into their warm Jeep.

Galentine didn’t seem to mind the attention, and rescuers quickly got her and her babies into the warm car and the pups instantly fell asleep. “Today, we had a huge win,” SRSL wrote on Facebook. “We were able to get her and all her babies!”

Once at the shelter, Galentine, thin and exhausted, eagerly lapped up food and attention from the staff.

“She filled her belly (she was sooo hungry and thirsty), and now she’s resting on some blankets in our warm meet & greet room, nursing her six 4 week old puppies,” SRSL wrote. “She is attention-starved as well, and just wants to climb in our laps and kiss our hands, she is sooo grateful. What a good mom.”

Over the next few weeks, Galentine lovingly cared for her puppies until they were ready to be weaned. When St. Patrick’s Day arrived, Galentine had another stroke of luck—SRSL was holding a special adoption event, and a family met her and fell in love.

“At 2 years old, Galentine is just a baby herself,” SRSL shared on Facebook. “Never again will she be lonely, cold, frightened, or hungry. Never again will she be considered property….She’s ready to receive respect and give so much love in return. She matters.”

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