Trapped Puppies Rescued From Under a Deck in Moloka’i Find New Lives

When Maraya Pierro answered a call from her 80-year-old mother about a trapped litter of puppies, she had no idea it would turn into a cross-country rescue mission. Pierro, the founder and executive director of Rescue Kitties of Hawaii on Moloka’i, never says no to helping animals in need — especially babies.

The Discovery of the Puppies

Pierro’s mother first heard hungry puppies crying from underneath a deck while helping remove belongings from an abandoned home.

“My first thought was, like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t know what to do with puppies,’” Pierro told The Dodo. “My second thought was: These babies need food.”

She immediately grabbed formula, bottles, and blankets and headed to the east end of Moloka’i, the island’s most remote area.

At first, rescuers thought there might be three or four puppies stuck. But to their shock and delight, the tiny dogs just kept coming.

“Every time another one came up, it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, number five! Oh my gosh, number six!’” Pierro said.

In total, seven puppies were rescued from their dark hiding spot.

Saving and Caring for the Puppies

The litter was starving, covered in fleas, and dehydrated from the heat. To prevent them from eating too quickly, the seniors helping Pierro created what she called an “incredible assembly line” of bottle-feeding and comforting.

Moloka’i doesn’t have a permanent vet or a large shelter, so Pierro coordinated with veterinary partners on O’ahu to ensure the puppies got the vaccinations and medications they needed in the weeks ahead.

Through her Rescue Kitties of Hawaii network, Pierro found an experienced foster on Moloka’i with a large property to care for the puppies. Soon, the babies grew stronger, began to play, and showed off their unique personalities.

“These foster pups each come with their own bombastic personalities,” Pierro wrote on Instagram. “Side eyes, snuggles, howls, and more! From Little Miss Land Shark to Fatabu the Big Baby, they’re already stealing hearts.”

Finding Forever Homes

The foster family loved the puppies so much that they decided to adopt one. Another Moloka’i family adopted two more.

The remaining four puppies recently flew to a shelter partner in Boston, where they will soon find loving forever homes.

Meanwhile, the Maui Humane Society located the puppies’ father, who has since found a forever home with a doting Moloka’i family. As for the mother dog, she remains at large, but Pierro hopes she is safe and knows what an incredible job she did protecting her babies until help arrived.

A Community Effort That Changed Lives

There’s a saying on Moloka’i: “Don’t change Moloka’i, let Moloka’i change you.” For Pierro, these puppies — and the community that rallied to save them — have done exactly that.

“Every single one lived,” Pierro said. “And is thriving.”