One of the greatest misconceptions I encounter, which never fails to break my heart, is the idea that animals don’t have feelings.
It seems to be an all-too-common belief that our beloved furry companions live purely on instincts, incapable of experiencing love, grief, or joy.
But I’ve witnessed the pure excitement of dogs jumping for joy, the comforting purring of cats curled in the laps of their owners, and even birds soaring into the hands of their human friends.
To challenge this idea, I want to share a story of resilience and sorrow that will touch even the coldest heart. Grab your tissues… this one is tough.
A Heartbreaking Beginning
When Eve, an animal rescuer from Pups Without Borders, heard about a soon-to-be mama at a local shelter, she rushed to bring her to safety, promising a stress-free pregnancy.
But as soon as she met the dog named Grace, Eve noticed that she wasn’t looking well.
“We took her to the vet, and they weren’t really sure what was going on, but they thought maybe she was just getting really big because she had such a large litter,” Eve told GeoBeats.
Originally, Eve had planned to keep Grace until she gave birth and then transfer her to a loving foster home, eagerly awaiting the mama and her precious pups.
But unfortunately, the plan didn’t go as hoped. Grace lost all of her puppies.
“We had already taken a PCR sample from Grace and sent it to our vet. We do that as a precaution for all of our dogs, especially the moms or pregnant dogs, and sure enough, we found out that Grace had canine herpes virus. For adult dogs, it’s usually asymptomatic and doesn’t cause any issues, but for puppies under three weeks, it’s usually a hundred percent fatal,” she added.
The entire rescue team was devastated. Watching Grace in her sadness, knowing she would never see her puppies grow into healthy dogs, broke their hearts.
To try and comfort her, Eve made sure Grace got plenty of walks, treats, and cuddles, but nothing seemed to lift her spirits.
And then, the call that would change everything came.
An Unexpected Miracle
A non-profit organization reached out to the rescue, informing them about a litter of orphaned puppies who had lost their mom.
Having lost their mother, all 11 puppies refused to eat. When Eve heard about this, she had an idea. Knowing Grace still had milk, she thought it was worth trying to introduce her to the puppies.
“We all decided it was the best chance the puppies had. So, at 11 p.m., when they arrived, I rushed over, grabbed them in a crate, took them home, opened the crate, and Grace started sniffing them, wagging her tail, licking them, and trying to crawl into the crate,” Eve shared.
In no time, Grace was lying on the floor, nursing the starving pups.
For the next couple of weeks, Grace lovingly cared for the puppies as if they were her own. They grew strong, healthy, and irresistibly adorable, and before long, they were all adopted into loving homes.
Seeing how incredible Grace was as a surrogate mother, Eve knew she belonged in her rescue family. So, of course, she adopted Grace!
Now, whenever there’s an adorable litter in need of extra care, Grace is always there, giving them the love and attention they deserve.