“[M]oms can be protective.”
Last month, Priscilla Wolcott, an animal control officer with Fresno Humane Animal Services, received a report about a stray dog hiding beneath someone’s house. The caller described the dog as “aggressive,” so Wolcott approached the property carefully, unsure of what to expect.
But when she arrived, the dog didn’t appear threatening at all.
“She wasn’t growling or showing her teeth,” Wolcott told The Dodo. “She was just laying in the dirt right there along the house.”
As Wolcott moved closer and began speaking softly to the dog, she suddenly noticed a tiny white puppy peeking out from under the house. Moments later, a second puppy appeared. To Wolcott’s surprise, both little ones ran straight toward her and immediately rolled over, asking for belly rubs.
That was when the earlier “aggressive” description began to make more sense.
“The ‘aggressive’ comment was starting to make sense because moms can be protective,” Wolcott said. “So that could have easily been misconstrued as her being aggressive when she was just protecting her puppies.”
Wolcott was amazed by how sweet and healthy the puppies were. Although the little family had been living outdoors for weeks, the mother dog had clearly done everything she could to care for them. The puppies were plump, happy and well-fed.
“They’re the cutest little fluff balls,” Wolcott said.
Wolcott had arrived expecting to rescue just one dog, but her plan quickly changed. She gently encouraged the mother and both puppies into a crate and brought all three back to Fresno Humane Animal Services.
“I was thinking I was going to pick up one,” Wolcott said. “I ended up picking up three.”
Their story is also a reminder of how important it is to report stray animals when you see them. Many people assume someone else has already called for help, but that is not always true.
“[T]hey were out there for weeks, and we only had gotten one call for them,” Wolcott said.
With help from her TikTok followers, Wolcott named the mother dog Sky, the female puppy Cloudy and the male puppy Sunny. Sky was quickly adopted through Fresno Humane Animal Services, while Sunny and Cloudy were transferred to Animal Compassion Team.
Cloudy has since found her forever home, and Sunny is still waiting for the right family. His adoption profile describes him as an affectionate, playful and goofy pup who loves both fun and cuddles.
With his friendly personality and adorable looks, Sunny likely won’t be waiting long. Soon, all three dogs rescued from beneath the house will have the loving homes they deserve.