Puppies Rescued After Hurricane Helene Will Soon Find Homes With Veterans And First Responders
A New York-based animal protection agency came to the aid of a North Carolina family in need
Newborn puppies, part of a group of dogs rescued after Hurricane Helene, are on their way to find meaningful new families. Paws of War, a Long Island, New York-based non-profit organization that rescues, trains and pairs animals with active and former service members and first responders, transported four puppies who were born just as Helene touched down. Now, the pups are being cared for and prepared to find their forever homes with veterans and other frontline workers. Keep reading to see photos of the adorable pups!
Asheville, North Carolina family rescues stray dog who surprisingly gives birth
As the storm, which notably impacted North Carolina, drew near, a family in Asheville welcomed eight new puppies as a stray female dog gave birth approximately one day after they brought her into their home.
“Then, six weeks went by, the hurricane hit and that family was still in their home caring for their own personal dog as well as the stray dog that delivered puppies,” Niki Dawson, director of animal welfare and logistics for Paws of War told Woman’s World.
The husband, wife and their children were living in a home that didn’t have electricity or water, Dawson said. After running out of pet food, they were feeding their dogs Pringles and snacks that they had that were non-perishable.
“And a nursing mom—it just wasn’t enough nutrition for her, but they were really doing the best they could,” Dawson said of the family. “They were trapped in their area—we were the first people that accessed their area post-storm—so they couldn’t get out to even get supplies. So, this was a family that was doing everything possible to keep her and her puppies safe and cared for. They just ran out of resources.”
Paws of War to the rescue
Dawson and her team jumped into action, first providing the humans in the household with the necessities they had been living without, she said. When they asked if pet food was needed and displayed a 40-pound bag of dry food plus wet food for the new mom, the family was close to tears, she recalled.
“We didn’t have all of the information at the time,” said Dawson. “We thought that this was their personal dog that had puppies and as we spent some time, it was a really nice moment for us because we were able to take a break from all the sadness and the heartache that we were witnessing and just snuggle with some puppies.”
It was during this cathartic experience that the family shared with the Paws of War team how they found the mother and even made an appointment to spay her. She was so thin at the time, they said, that they didn’t realize she was pregnant and would soon deliver.
They also noted that they weren’t sure how they would manage to continue caring for all of the dogs, and didn’t foresee being able to find the puppies homes nearby in an area where people are under financial pressure. So, Paws of War teamed up with another animal protection agency, and the two groups decided they would split the litter, each assuming care and safety responsibilities for four puppies.
The newborns received their first round of vaccines in the field in North Carolina before heading up to New York with the Paws crew.
What’s next for the rescued puppies and their mom
Last week, Dawson was able to see and noticed that the puppies, who she said were very thin when they first met them, seem to have doubled in weight. They’re receiving another round of vaccinations including a deworming, fecal test, flea and tick treatments and baths.
The siblings will keep practicing socialization skills, which is important to help them learn appropriate bite inhibition (a dog’s ability to control the force and pressure of their bite), Dawson said, and when they reach eight weeks of age, Paws of War will start looking for their families.
As for the mama, she’ll be staying with the family who rescued her, and Paws of War will be covering the cost of her spay.
“She’s so sweet,” Dawson said of the dog who looked like some kind of German Shepherd mix with black and tan coloring. “You always expect mom dogs to be very protective of puppies, and she was initially, but as soon as we sat down she just came over and was giving us kisses and she’s just such a good girl.”
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