A mother dog and her four puppies have been rescued in South Carolina after being found abandoned on the side of a road. Autumn, described as a “gentle” one-year-old dog, was discovered emaciated and weak but had managed to keep her puppies healthy.
Katie Wofford, marketing assistant for the Greenville Humane Society, said in an email to McClatchy News that Autumn first came to their attention when a staff member saw her photo posted on Facebook by a community member. “Autumn first appeared on our radar when one of our staff members saw a picture of her on Facebook,” Wofford said. “A member of the community had posted a picture of Autumn on the side of the road, scared and emaciated. After seeing that picture, we knew we had to help. And so, we reached out to the original poster, and she was kind enough to catch Autumn and all of her puppies.”
After arriving at the shelter, both Autumn and her four puppies received medical care. The shelter reported that while Autumn showed signs of prolonged malnutrition and lack of medical attention, her puppies were mostly healthy aside from minor skin issues and runny noses. In a statement shared on Facebook, the shelter wrote: “While her body showed the devastating toll of prolonged malnutrition and lack of medical care — her babies? They were mostly healthy. Some minor skin issues and a couple of runny noses, but their bellies were full. Somehow, against all odds, this young mama gave everything she had to her little ones.”
The shelter noted that when rescued, Autumn was suffering from sores due to flea bites and was so weak she could barely stand.
Wofford described Autumn as calm with a gentle temperament who enjoys resting with people as she recovers at the shelter. “She’s a calm, gentle soul, and loves nothing more than taking naps with her head resting on a human’s lap,” Wofford said. “Maybe as she recovers, she’ll grow a bit more spunky!”
Both Autumn and her puppies—named Chestnut, Hazelnut, Pumpkin and Spice—are currently under medical observation at the Greenville Humane Society. They are expected to be in need of foster homes beginning the week of September 8th.
Information about adoption or fostering through Greenville Humane Society is available at greenvillehumane.com.
