In a distressing yet heartwarming incident, a group of seven puppies was found abandoned in a wire kennel on the side of a road in South Florida.
The puppies, left with a sign that read "free," were rescued by a concerned citizen and are now on the path to recovery.
The rescue story began when a popular YouTube creator Jacob Feder known for his passion for animal welfare, stumbled upon an alarming Instagram story.
Image source: Jacob Feder on YouTube
The post, shared by his friend Walker, showed a wire kennel filled with puppies, abandoned and left to fend for themselves.
The sight of the helpless puppies spurred the rescuer into immediate action.
“I was scrolling through Instagram when I saw Walker's story,” he recounted.
“He had found these puppies dumped on the side of the road, and I knew I had to do something.”
Wasting no time, the rescuer, accompanied by his sister, drove to the location provided by Walker.
Upon arrival, they were met with a heartbreaking scene.
The puppies, approximately four to six weeks old, were crammed into the wire kennel, visibly distressed and in poor health.
“We grabbed them all,” the rescuer said, reflecting on the moment they took the puppies into their care.
“Now we have seven puppies that were dumped on the side of the road.
Some of them had visible mange and fleas, and one even pooped worms during the rescue.”
The sight of the puppies’ condition was disturbing.
Mange, a skin disease caused by parasitic mites, was evident on several puppies, particularly on their heads and legs.
The presence of fleas and worms further highlighted the neglect these puppies had suffered.
The rescuer explained the prevalence of such incidents in South Florida.
“This happens a lot down here.
People abandon animals when they can’t take care of them, and it’s heartbreaking.
These puppies were in dire need of help, and we had to step in.”
After securing the puppies, the rescuers drove them back to their home, where they set up a temporary shelter.
“We set them up in two different pens to clean them and separate them for eating.
They were in bad shape, but we were determined to nurse them back to health,” the rescuer said.
The immediate task was to address the puppies’ health issues.
They were given food and water, and preparations were made to deworm them.
“Their bellies were swollen, a clear sign of worm infestation,” the rescuer explained.
“We had to act fast to give them the medication they needed.”
The rescuer and his sister meticulously went through each puppy’s fur, checking for fleas and treating the mange with antifungal medication.
“We found several fleas on the puppies,” the rescuer noted.
“Using tweezers and rubbing alcohol, we started the painstaking process of removing them one by one.”
Despite their condition, the puppies exhibited a lively and affectionate demeanor.
“They’re so adorable and active.
Watching them eat and play was incredibly rewarding.
It’s hard to believe someone could abandon them like this,” the rescuer said.
The puppies' rescue and rehabilitation process is being documented on social media, with the rescuer updating followers on their progress.
He also made an appeal to the local community for help in finding permanent homes for the puppies.
“If you live in the Miami area and are interested in adopting one of these puppies, please reach out.
We have two girls and five boys, and they all need loving homes.”
The journey of these seven puppies from abandonment to rescue is a testament to the power of compassion and the critical role of community involvement in animal welfare.
Want to see the original YouTube video? Click the play button below:
Story sources: Jacob Feder on YouTube