The owners relinquished control of the 5-month-old puppies, named Peaches and Layla, as well as their 7-year-old mother, Lady, to the rescuers, who hurriedly transported the dogs to the shelter.
According to MacMurchy, the conditions in which they were living were appalling. There was a makeshift pen with about 6 to 8 inches of debris, and the puppies were completely unsocialized.
Upon examination by a veterinarian, it was discovered that the dogs were relatively healthy. However, the puppies lacked confidence and were clueless when it came to functioning without their mother present. To MacMurchy’s dismay, Peaches and Layla sought solace in each other by embracing tightly when placed in the shelter.
MacMurchy elaborated, “While we were administering vaccinations and performing wellness checks, we had finished with the mother first. As we led her out into our intake area, the puppies, without their mother, gravitated towards each other out of fear.”
Currently, the little family resides together at the shelter, where they are being taught what it means to be in a safe environment.
MacMurchy shared, “We provide them multiple opportunities throughout the day to simply relax and receive some tender loving care in a serene room with a staff member. This helps them learn to trust. They show significant improvement when their mother is present, so we work with all three of them together, as well as individually. It is a gradual process, but they are gradually gaining confidence to stand on their own.”
Merely a few days after being rescued, Lady has already developed self-assurance. She eagerly seeks interactions with new people and eagerly anticipates walks. However, the puppies will require additional time for socialization.
MacMurchy described, “Lady is an affectionate little bundle of joy, wagging her tail and wiggling her butt. She is ecstatic to receive love and affection. The puppies haven’t reached that stage yet. While they gratefully accept love and affection, they exude excitement when they are together, relying on each other for confidence.”
MacMurchy added, “They are highly reliant on one another.”
Once Peaches and Layla are deemed ready for adoption, the hope is that they will be adopted together. In their new home, they will experience not only hugs from each other but also from their caring family.
