Alice and Jeff, a couple from Macon, Mississippi, are dedicated dog rescuers who never know where their next mission will lead. Over the years, they have done remarkable work and encountered many surprises. One day, Jeff’s friend mentioned spotting a white Shepherd dog during a logging trip, sparking immediate concern and curiosity in the couple about the dog’s plight.
She Begged Them To Follow Her
The founders of Southern Pup rescue drove through the woods until they spotted a white lump by the road. Approaching cautiously, they quickly realized it was the dog in question and pulled over to befriend her. To their relief, she was friendly and immediately sensed their good intentions, turning into a loving cuddle bug, eager for rescue.
While petting her, Alice noticed the dog’s swollen mammary glands, leading her to suspect that she was a nursing mother abandoned with her litter. Despite searching the nearby woods, the couple found no signs of her pups. To their astonishment, the mama dog took the lead by walking away, glancing back to ensure Alice and Jeff were following her, traversing a mile and prompting the rescuers to wonder where she was guiding them.
After a mile of following, uncertainty crept in for Alice and Jeff about where the mama dog was leading them. “It’s been a mile. I don’t know if she’s heading home. There’s nothing but gravel roads,” Alice shared in a Facebook video. Suddenly, the dog directed herself toward a ditch, shocking them with what lay inside.
The Most Shocking Surprise
In the ditch, they found nine newborn puppies huddled together. It was a heartbreaking yet heartwarming discovery made just in time, as Alice explained, “She turns to the ditch and I look over, and her nine fat babies are just a few feet off the road in a ditch that within 45 minutes to an hour would have been filling up with water when a storm was coming through,” she shared with GeoBeats Animals. Thanks to the mama’s determination, they were found moments before the impending storm.
Alice and Jeff swiftly gathered Marathon, the brave mother dog, and her puppies, bringing them to safety. Upon returning home, they created a cozy nursing area so Marathon could care for her little ones. It was a miraculous moment knowing the entire family was given a new lease on life, reflecting on the uncertainty of what could have happened had they remained in that ditch. Amazingly, despite living in the wild for so long, Marathon quickly adjusted to indoor life, radiating happiness now that she and her pups were secure.
For now, Marathon and her adorable puppies will stay with Alice and Jeff, receiving the care they need. Once they’re ready, all of the dogs will be available for adoption. But first, the couple is excited to see how these little furballs grow!
