Daily, rescuers encounter urgent situations involving animals, particularly dogs, in distress. Fortunately, these compassionate individuals consistently strive to assist these poor creatures.
This was the case when Kristen Gamble, co-founder of One Mutt At a Time Rescue in Riverside, California, came across a video on social media showing a family of dogs trapped in an abandoned home following the owner’s passing.
Despite the dire circumstances of the Phelan, California residence, this caring woman wasted no time and swiftly made her way to the location to rescue them.
Shocking Conditions
Prior to entering the house, Kristen contacted the daughter of the homeowner. Despite her poor condition, she allowed Kristen into the house and gave her a tour.
Kristen had already witnessed the chaos in the video shared by the neighbor, but the sight in person left her truly stunned. The most heartbreaking aspect was the situation of the canine family inside.
“The house was unbelievable.” Kristen shared with Rocky Kanaka, “The dogs had been trapped in the house alone for 6 weeks. They were very skinny.”
She also learned that the neighbor who initially posted the video had been feeding the dogs throughout the sixth week. However, the situation became so dire that he ultimately decided to seek help.
“The home was uninhabitable for the dogs,” Kristen remarked. “The floors were so soaked with urine we feared we might fall through.”
As the neighbor erected a barrier to keep the dogs confined to the upstairs area, Kristen and her fellow rescuers made their way up the stairs, guided by the sounds of the dogs’ whines and barks.
Upon reaching the top, they were met by nine adorable puppies, along with their mother and father. The rescuers deduced that the mother was a small Shepherd mix and the father a mix between a Corgi and a Husky.
While they could not be certain, they estimated that the puppies were approximately six weeks old, meaning they had spent their entire lives in this dreadful environment.
As there were no collars or identifying tags for the dogs, they decided to assign rescue names to the adult dogs. The mother was named Klara and the father Kolbi.
After enduring such a protracted period in those harsh conditions, Klara, Kolbi, and their puppies began their journey towards a better life—all thanks to these kind-hearted individuals.
A New Chance For This Family
Although their first stop was the rescue center’s location in Riverside, California, this canine family didn’t linger there for long. Driven by her commitment to providing them a brighter future, Kristen soon secured a foster home for them.
Her close friend Vanessa Traufler-Samarripa, a fellow volunteer and Board Member at One Mutt at a Time, couldn’t bear to turn down this dog family. Even with her existing care for 10 foster cats and four dogs, she agreed to take all 11 of them in.
She found joy in the puppies, captivated by their expressions filled with love and hope. She was equally delighted to see the parents rekindled with happiness, as they understood that their children were now on a path to a brighter future.
Though they have yet to find their forever homes, we believe this family is fated for happiness, and it’s only a matter of time before they experience their greatest moments.
Fingers crossed.
