“They are literally radiating sunshine”
On a typical morning in Bali, Indonesia, dog rescuer Selina Dey spotted a pregnant stray wandering around an abandoned house. When she approached, it became clear the mama dog was far too wary to let anyone near. Yet Dey refused to leave her to face the final weeks of pregnancy alone.
Since she couldn’t safely remove the dog, Dey began visiting daily, bringing nutritious meals to help the expectant mother stay strong for the pups she was about to bring into the world.
One day, Dey returned to find the mama dog noticeably smaller. She knew the birth had already happened — but where were the puppies?
“I couldn’t find the puppies at first, so I carefully explored the abandoned house, which was a little scary,” Dey told The Dodo. “Eventually, I heard tiny cries calling for their mom.”
Following the sounds, she discovered a litter huddled together. Most of the puppies were okay, but one tiny baby had gotten stuck in a drain.
“I counted eight puppies, but one had fallen into a small drain. I pulled her out — she was freezing,” Dey said. She fed the litter alongside their mother but took the fragile little pup home immediately, determined to give her the warmth and care she needed.
Dey named the tiny girl Fiorella. She bottle-fed her regularly and kept her snuggled on her chest to raise her body temperature. Fiorella loved the closeness, sleeping peacefully in Dey’s care for hours.
Tragically, by the next morning, Fiorella’s condition hadn’t improved. “My gut just told me something was wrong,” Dey said. Despite veterinary support, the puppy was too fragile to survive and passed away within 24 hours. Heartbroken, Dey made a vow to Fiorella: she would care for the rest of her siblings.
“I promised Fiorella I’d keep her family safe and healthy — and that’s exactly what I did,” Dey said. She visited the abandoned house twice daily, preparing meals and ensuring the litter thrived.
As the house became unsafe for the pups, Dey brought them home while keeping their mother close. She allowed the puppies to visit her mom regularly so she could still snuggle with them.
Under Dey’s care, the once-tiny newborns grew into strong, playful puppies, each carrying a spark of Fiorella’s spirit.
Three of the litter have already been adopted into loving homes, with a fourth waiting for her forever family. The remaining three are still looking for homes, but Dey remains hopeful.
“They are literally radiating sunshine,” she said. “They’re safe and loved until they each find the forever family I promised their sister, Fiorella.”