“They know all the best hiding places” 😰
Whenever Donna Lochmann drives past an abandoned building in St. Louis, Missouri, she can’t help but wonder if a homeless animal might be hiding inside, seeking shelter from the streets. As the Chief Life-Saving Officer at Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL), she’s encountered countless strays over the years—many tucked away in crumbling homes, clinging to survival.
But one recent rescue stood out from the rest.
Lochmann was driving with her colleague, Natalie Thomson, when they passed a deserted property and were immediately alerted—not by a hunch, but by a determined protector standing her ground.
“A mama dog barks at us, protecting her puppies who are inside an abandoned house,” SRSL wrote in a Facebook video.
A gray pit bull stood poised in the yard, barking firmly at the rescuers. She had been the sole guardian of her newborn litter, shielding them from the harsh world for weeks. Her posture was both fierce and uncertain as she faced the approaching strangers. But as Lochmann and Thomson slowly moved forward, something shifted—the mother’s bark softened, and she eventually allowed them onto the property.
Climbing over debris left by a recent tornado, the two women entered the dilapidated home through a broken window. Inside, the dangers only intensified.
“The house was full of hiding places and mounds of trash,” SRSL shared in a second video.
The two-story house was in extreme disrepair—trash scattered everywhere, gaping holes in floors and walls, and staircases hidden beneath layers of discarded items. The rescuers carefully navigated the unstable interior, ascending stairs covered in old lottery tickets until they reached the upper floor.
There, at the top of the steps, curious faces peered back—puppies, cautious yet intrigued. But in an instant, they scattered into a nearby bedroom, vanishing among piles of debris and an old mattress.
“The puppies scatter and know all the best hiding places,” SRSL wrote.
Determined to find them all, Lochmann and Thomson began their search. Behind the mattress, a pair of eyes blinked up at them—then more tiny forms were found crouched beneath and behind the bed. As each pup was gently lifted to safety, the rescuers scanned the room for any others. Just as they were finishing up, they spotted movement in the distance—a puppy peeking out from a crumbling hole in the wall, too far to reach safely.
“The floor won’t hold our weight, so we decide to wait them out and set down some delicious food,” SRSL wrote.
Patience paid off. Enticed by the food, the remaining puppies slowly crept out, allowing the team to safely capture and carry them out. One last sweep of the room revealed a seventh puppy hidden under the bed. All seven were now safe.
Still, Lochmann and her team feared they might have missed one.
“Because there are so many hiding places, we want to be 100 percent certain we got all of the puppies,” SRSL explained. So they left the mother dog—now named Miz Lotto—behind temporarily, setting up trail cameras inside the house to monitor any signs of remaining pups.
The puppies were brought to SRSL’s headquarters, where they were bathed, examined, and sent into emergency foster care. Since they had already weaned and the shelter was overwhelmed, foster homes provided the best environment for recovery.
That night, the team watched the cameras closely. By morning, they were confident: no puppies remained in the house. Miz Lotto had done her job, and it was time to bring her home.
When the team returned at dawn, they found her calmly lying in the yard. With care and compassion, they used a humane trap and food to gently guide her in. She was soon on her way to the safety of SRSL, and later to a loving foster home of her own.
Although Miz Lotto wasn’t reunited with her pups, she didn’t seem to mind. Her foster family showered her with attention, love, and warmth—everything she had once given so selflessly to her puppies.
“Miz Lotto is sooo cuddly,” SRSL shared joyfully.
While the team had hoped to give the little family a moment together, they were content knowing each member was safe, healthy, and cherished in their new homes.
“[Miz Lotto] is not just doing great, she is thriving,” SRSL added. “The most important thing is they are all safe, happy, healthy—and ending the cycle.”