“It was sad to see them in a basket.”
The other day, Alexis Aguilar, cofounder and rescue coordinator at Feeding Perris Strays, received a message about a mother dog and her newborn puppies who urgently needed help.
The message came with a photo showing the tiny puppies huddled together in a laundry basket while their mother stood close by, watching over them.
Racing To Reach Them
The dogs were more than 40 minutes away, but Aguilar didn’t hesitate. She stopped what she was doing and immediately drove out to rescue them.
The person who had first found the dogs had left them food and water, but Aguilar was still deeply worried. Since coyotes were a danger in the area, she wanted to reach the family as fast as possible.
Found Hidden Near The Street
When Aguilar arrived, she found the little family tucked away in a residential area, near a sidewalk behind several homes. They were so hidden that it was lucky anyone had spotted them at all.
Seeing the puppies left in a basket broke Aguilar’s heart. If they had been old enough to climb out and walk around, they could have easily wandered into the street and been hurt.
A Protective Mom Who Chose To Trust
Aguilar had been told that the mother dog was nervous around people and protective of her babies, so she approached carefully.
But to her surprise, the mama dog seemed to understand that Aguilar was there to help. As soon as Aguilar sat nearby, the dog came right up to her and gently offered her muzzle for pets.
Aguilar began scratching and comforting her, and the mother dog stayed calm the entire time.
Seven Tiny Puppies Saved
Once the mama dog felt safe, Aguilar began carefully moving the puppies into her truck. Their mother watched closely as each baby was placed inside, then Aguilar helped her join them.
There were seven puppies in total, and Aguilar guessed they were only around 2 to 3 weeks old. They were tiny, soft and completely dependent on their mom.
A Vet Visit And A Foster Home
Aguilar took the whole family to the vet right away. Thankfully, the puppies and their mom did not appear to have any serious medical problems.
Still, it was obvious the mother dog had been through a lot. Her fur was badly matted, showing that she had likely been neglected for some time.
After the checkup, Aguilar arranged for the family to stay in a foster home.
Finally Safe And Settling In
In just a few days, the dogs have already started to relax. The mother is eating and drinking well, adjusting to care and even learning how to walk on a leash.
For now, the entire family will continue resting and growing in their foster home. In several weeks, once the puppies are old enough, they’ll all be ready to find loving families of their own.
Thanks to Aguilar and their foster caregivers, this little dog family no longer has to survive outside in a basket — they finally have safety, comfort and a real chance at a better life.