“[They] were inseparable”
When Donna Lochmann pulled up to an abandoned house in St. Louis, her heart sank. She’d been told that several puppies were wandering the backyard, and she came prepared with a large trap, assuming their mother was nearby.
But as she approached the property, she quickly realized this rescue was going to be bigger than expected. There wasn’t just one adult dog needing help — there were two inseparable best friends — and the puppies were nowhere to be seen.
As the Chief Life Saving Officer at Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL), Donna has seen just about everything. Still, even she was surprised to find this loyal pair standing guard at the empty house.
“Mom and her best friend (possibly her sister) were inseparable,” SRSL shared on Facebook. “We couldn’t leave her friend behind.”
A Search For The Missing Puppies
Donna carefully set the trap with some tasty food, hoping one of the adult dogs would wander in while she searched for the missing pups. Thankfully, the two construction workers who had first called SRSL stayed to help.
Together, they searched every corner of the yard until one worker spotted a tiny white puppy face peeking out from a pile of lumber.
To their amazement, there weren’t just one or two — but eight puppies hiding under the debris. The rescuers gently pulled each one out while keeping an eye on the mama dog nearby.
And just as they finished, their plan worked — the mother dog stepped into the trap, safe at last.
Moments later, her loyal companion followed right behind.
“Her friend seemed to understand exactly what we needed her to do,” SRSL said. “She bravely went right in, too!”
A Family Of Ten
With two adult dogs and eight puppies safely secured, Donna drove them straight to the SRSL veterinary clinic. There, the team discovered something beautiful — not only were the dogs healthy, but the two adult females were deeply bonded.
The rescuers named them Prize and Award, fitting titles for two brave survivors.
“Prize would bury her head in Award’s fur,” SRSL shared. “They comforted each other constantly. When separated, they shut down.”
From that moment, the rescue knew they would never separate the two friends.
Waiting For Their Forever Home
Weeks passed, and the puppies grew strong enough to find loving families of their own. But Prize and Award stayed together at the SRSL shelter, learning to walk on leashes, exploring new places, and gaining confidence side by side.
“They give each other courage to try new things,” the team said.
Now, the pair are waiting for one special family — a home willing to adopt them together and give them the happy ending they deserve.
Until that day comes, SRSL’s team continues to shower them with love and care, dreaming of the moment when these two best friends will finally have a home of their own.
“We just know they’ll cuddle and play together for the rest of their lives,” SRSL shared.