The right person arrived at the right time.
Earlier this month in Mississippi, Carlin Curtis was driving along a rural road when something caught her eye — a lone dog near the roadside. As she pulled over for a closer look, she discovered not just one, but a mother dog huddled with three tiny puppies in the gravel and dirt. It was clear they’d been dumped and left to fend for themselves.
Thankfully, Curtis is no stranger to these kinds of situations. As an independent rescue partner with Wright-Way Rescue — an organization that focuses on helping animals in underserved rural areas — she was prepared to help. The mama dog, later named Sugar, seemed to sense Curtis’s good intentions. Without hesitation, she walked right up to her, a mix of desperation and trust in her eyes.
Curtis gave Sugar some much-needed food, which the nursing dog eagerly accepted. She then carefully placed the puppies into a plastic bin she keeps in her car for moments just like this. With her pups safe and her hunger eased, Sugar curled up in the back seat of Curtis’s car and quickly drifted off into a deep, well-earned sleep.
According to JeriLynn Burks, director of development at Wright-Way Rescue, Sugar and her puppies were in good health and ready to move into a foster home immediately. The foster family quickly grew attached to Sugar and decided to adopt her permanently.
As for her 2-month-old pups — now named Bailey, Bree, and Burt — they were transferred to the rescue’s medical campus in Southern Illinois. All three have big personalities and even bigger appetites. “Bailey seems to be a little on the shy side,” Burks noted, “but they’re all full of that classic puppy energy.”
The puppies have already been spayed and neutered, and after a short health observation period, they’ll be vaccinated and introduced to other dogs for play and socialization. Once they hit 16 weeks and are fully vaccinated, they’ll be ready for walks, outings, and new adventures — though they’ve already had quite the journey so far.
As for Sugar, she’s finally enjoying the comfort and safety of her forever home — with plenty of food, love, and rest to make up for the tough road behind her.