“I can’t believe nobody in the neighborhood came out to see what was going on …”
When Donna Lochmann received a call about a family of pit bulls in dire need of assistance, she knew the rescue operation would be delicate. The report described at least three puppies hiding in an overgrown backyard, their protective mama bear determined to shield them from harm. Lochmann, Chief Life Saving Officer at Stray Rescue of St. Louis, understood the complexities of such a situation.
Arriving at the scene, Lochmann strategically assessed the situation. Though she could see some puppies peeking from their hiding spots, she recognized the importance of securing the mother first.
“I thought, ‘Well, I’m just gonna try to get mom first because if she’s barking at me, I don’t know what her reaction is gonna be when I start picking up her puppies,’” Lochmann explained.
Donutfest, as the mama dog was later named, was clearly hungry. Lochmann used a can of Vienna sausages to gently lure the wary pup to her car. Within minutes, Donutfest was safely inside.
“Once Donutfest was safe, I started working on finding the puppies,” Lochmann said.
The first puppy Lochmann encountered was huddled alone near a fence. While not skittish, the little one certainly had opinions about being handled.
“She absolutely started screaming,” Lochmann recalled. “I can’t believe nobody in the neighborhood came out to see what was going on.”
Reunited with her mom in the car, the screaming puppy was soon joined by her siblings. Two more puppies were discovered hiding in the dense weeds, and a third was found curled up on an abandoned couch.
The puppies, familiar with their surroundings, initially proved challenging to catch. Two darted deeper into the overgrowth, but Lochmann, employing the same tactic she used with their mother, opened a can of puppy food. The irresistible aroma quickly drew the pups into her arms.
With Donutfest and three of her four puppies safely in the car, only one remained. This last little one leaped from the couch and attempted an escape, but Lochmann gently scooped him up before he could get away.
“It took me a while to get the last three puppies,” Lochmann admitted. “But once I got them all in the car, I was so happy.”
The puppies, all healthy and thriving, were quickly placed in foster care. The overwhelming response to a Facebook photo of the reunited family suggests that all four puppies have found their forever homes.
“I think most of them are already spoken for as far as finding their forever homes,” Lochmann shared. “But Mama is still with us.”
While her puppies have garnered significant attention, Donutfest is still searching for her forever home. The once-fearful dog is now a happy, playful pup with a constant smile.
“She’s completely just a happy, smiley, bouncy girl now who loves her caregivers and going on walks,” Lochmann said. “We would love for her to be in a home and finally get adopted.”1
Stray Rescue of St. Louis is hopeful that Donutfest will soon find the loving family she deserves. Until then, they continue to provide her with the love and care she was previously denied.
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