Stray Rescue of St. Louis, a prominent rescue organization in Missouri for over two decades, has been dedicated to making a difference in the lives of dogs others often overlook—those that are abandoned, injured, frightened, and feeling betrayed. They step in when no one else will, providing these pups the second chance they desperately need.
Donna Lochmann, a dedicated team member from Stray Rescue of St. Louis, has spent more than 20 years giving dogs a chance for a better life. Every day, she works tirelessly on rescues, and while each story is significant, some resonate more than others.
A Furry Family Hiding In The Bush
Experienced rescuers know the streets may seem quiet, but that can change in an instant. While driving through St. Louis, Donna spotted a dirty, milk-engorged female dog, revealing she had recently given birth. The dog was wandering in search of food, so Donna set out some food, hoping she would lead them to her puppies after eating.
“I was hoping that once she ate and had a full belly, she would return to her puppies. The area has many abandoned houses and thick brush where they could be hiding. After she ate, I followed her as she moved through yards, across roads, and into the underbrush,” Donna explained.
As she trailed the mother, Donna heard the wail of one of the puppies. The poor pup had fallen into a twenty-inch-deep pipe and was terrified, crying for help.
“There, at the bottom of the pipe, was a single black puppy, about six weeks old, whimpering and crying. She was terrified and screamed as I went to pick her up. But once I secured her in the jeep, her tail wouldn’t stop wagging,” Donna recalled.
While the mother dog continued barking and moving away, Donna ventured through the woods, determined to find more puppies. Sure enough, she discovered a few small black puppies, around six weeks old, who were quite mobile and made capturing them a challenge.
“I had to grab one puppy, take it back to the jeep, and return for the next one as they squirmed in my arms. Once all four puppies were safe in the jeep, I set off after mom,” Donna shared.
Something Surprising Then Happened
Upon returning to the abandoned area, Donna noticed another adult female dog hiding nearby, which came as a surprise. There was a second adult female with distinctive black ears.
“I couldn’t determine if they were siblings or if one was an adult pup from a previous litter. They stayed close together while navigating through the weeds and abandoned yards,” Donna remarked.
Catching the two adult dogs proved difficult as the traps set were insufficient. With evening approaching, Donna had to leave and return the next day. After a restless night, she was able to return and successfully capture the other dog, thanks to food luring her.
“She was nervous and scared. We wanted to secure her in the jeep before she made any distressed noises that could disturb the mom. We loaded her up, and as we drove away, we saw her friend sitting alone in the field across the street. It was an incredibly heartbreaking moment,” Donna recounted.
Despite their efforts to return for her, they spent several hours without success and had to devise another plan for the following day.
Tears Of Joy
In contrast to her friend, the mama dog showed no interest in food and refused to enter the trap, compelling them to think creatively.
“Instead of food, we acquired a poopy blanket and pee pads from the puppies’ foster home. After setting the trap, we even played a video of one puppy crying in the pipe,” Donna described.
Finally, their strategy paid off. Upon returning early the next morning, they were relieved to discover the mama dog laying in the trap.
Though she was scared, the mama dog stayed silent as they gently transported her to their vehicle and drove her to their facility. After days of relentless effort to rescue the entire family, an overwhelming sense of relief washed over them, bringing tears to their eyes. They were finally all safe!
“They will receive all the love in the world and become part of a family,” Donna concluded.
