When staff and volunteers at Saving Hope Rescue spotted a cardboard box dumped on their property, their hearts immediately sank. Scrawled across the side were the words “puppies her.”
They hurried over, fearing the worst.
When they gently lifted the lid, a dozen tiny faces blinked up at them — a wriggling pile of all-white puppies huddled together for warmth.
Even though the rescue was already stretched beyond capacity, there was no hesitation. The team scooped up the fragile babies and brought them inside. “We couldn’t turn them away,” one volunteer said. “They needed us.”
The rescuers quickly set up cozy beds, food, and heat lamps for their new guests. But as the days passed, they began to notice something unusual — the puppies weren’t responding to sounds or movement the way most pups would.
“At first, they were all deemed blind and deaf,” said Lauren Anton of Saving Hope Rescue. “As they developed more, we realized some could hear faintly or see shadows, while others were more severely impaired.”
It’s possible that their disabilities were the reason someone abandoned them — but to the Saving Hope team, it didn’t matter. The puppies were safe now, and that was all that counted.
“Mate is a good example of one of the slightly impaired pups,” Anton explained. “We’re not sure how much she can see or hear, but she recognizes when we shake the food bag and comes running when called. Koala, on the other hand, is much more impaired — he might only see shadows.”
Despite their challenges, the puppies’ joyful spirits began to shine.
“Over the last few weeks, they’ve gone from sleepy babies to rambunctious little adventurers,” Anton said. “They play, wrestle, and melt into our arms for cuddles. They’ve learned that human love feels really good.”
These once-abandoned puppies may have been left behind, but they’ve proven that love doesn’t need perfect sight or sound to be felt. Surrounded by care and compassion, they’re finally getting the second chance they deserve — and a future that’s as bright as their spirits.
