Their frail frames tugged at the heartstrings 💔A man out for a stroll with his dog in Gary, Indiana, stumbled upon a scene that halted him in his tracks. Amidst a heap of discarded mattresses, movement caught his eye.
Drawing closer, he was met with a heart-wrenching sight – a litter of six abandoned puppies, left to brave the world alone, with no sign of their mother.
In a swift response to the urgent plea, he reached out to Silverstray Social, an organization renowned for its dedication to rescuing animals and supporting pet families. Though it was the quiet Friday evening preceding Memorial Day, a time when rescue calls were seldom heard, the Silverstray Social team sprang into action upon hearing of the distressed pups.
As Layce, a devoted volunteer, raced to the scene, the man who had discovered the pups carefully gathered them into a makeshift shelter. Upon Layce’s arrival, the harrowing reality of their condition became apparent – they were mere shadows, their tiny bodies ravaged by hunger. By their size, the rescuers estimated they couldn’t have been more than 2 months old.
Once the rescuers had the opportunity to thoroughly examine the puppies, they were in for a staggering revelation regarding their age.
“What everyone initially thought were 6- to 8-week-old puppies turned out to be 6-month-old puppies… That’s the extent of their malnourishment,” revealed Kelly Carey, the founder of Silverstray Social.
Carey reached out to various partner organizations she collaborates with to find a suitable placement for the puppies. Fortunately, a local foster organization known as Guardians of the Green Mile stepped forward to offer their assistance. Prior to their transfer, the puppies were provided with temporary accommodation at the home of a dedicated volunteer for an overnight stay.
Since their discovery atop the heap of mattresses, the puppies have embarked on a remarkable journey of recovery. In just a few days, they’ve shown remarkable progress, their once gaunt frames now filling out as they gain weight. There’s a newfound glint in their eyes, a light that was absent mere days ago.
While the circumstances surrounding the puppies’ abandonment are undeniably distressing, Carey emphasized Silverstray Social’s proactive stance. Rather than dwelling on the past, the organization is dedicated to empowering the community with the knowledge and resources needed to prevent such tragedies from recurring. In their approach, education and support take precedence over judgment of individual circumstances.
Silverstray Social stands as a beacon of support for pet families, offering a myriad of essential services. From complimentary spays and neuters to free vaccines and microchipping, and even providing free TNR for stray cats and dogs, the organization leaves no stone unturned in its mission to promote responsible pet ownership. Moreover, Silverstray Social forges partnerships with local entities addressing broader societal challenges, such as homelessness and food insecurity, recognizing the interconnectedness between the struggles faced by pets and humans alike.
“If the people were better supported in the community … that might not [have happened],” Carey reflected, highlighting the critical importance of community support in mitigating such distressing situations.
Thankfully, for these puppies, aid arrived precisely when needed.
“They’re hanging out in the rescue and doing well,” Carey remarked, offering a glimmer of hope amid adversity.