A woman had just arrived at Lake Thurmond in South Carolina, ready for a peaceful day of kayaking, when something on the shoreline caught her eye.
She knew this lake well — she kayaked there often — but what she saw this time was anything but ordinary.
As she made her way toward the water, she noticed a strange pile of tiny, wriggling bodies.
Drawing closer, she realized they weren’t just debris or wildlife — they were puppies. Four tiny, nearly hairless puppies, huddled together and abandoned on the shore.
They were clearly in rough shape, but despite their fear, the kayaker gently approached, determined to help.
Thanks to her quick thinking and compassion, the pups were soon safe in the care of Final Victory Animal Rescue.
“All four puppies were very emaciated and covered in demodex mange,” said Leslie Rider Osmanski, medical manager and foster coordinator at the rescue. “Their mange was so severe that they were almost completely hairless.”
Rescue staff affectionately dubbed them the water's edge puppies and began their recovery journey with soothing medicated baths, food, and plenty of love. As their skin started to heal, so did their spirits.
The pups were given lake-themed names in honor of the kayaker who found them: Kayak, Canoe, Paddle Board, and Raft.
No one knows how the puppies ended up alone at the water’s edge, but one thing is certain — they’re now safe and surrounded by people who care.
Two of the pups, Paddle Board and Raft, have already found future homes and will be adopted once they’re fully healed. Kayak and Canoe, the two little girls, are still waiting for their forever families.
If you're interested in adopting one of these resilient pups, you can reach out to Final Victory Animal Rescue and help write their next chapter — one filled with love, warmth, and maybe even the occasional kayak ride.
