Earlier this month, a driver traveling down a rural Missouri road spotted something strange: a woman standing by the shoulder, peering into an old, battered suitcase.
Concerned, the driver pulled over — and was stunned to see four 8-week-old puppies crammed inside the zipped-up case, abandoned on the roadside with no way to escape.
The woman who’d found the suitcase took one puppy home immediately, while the driver stayed with the remaining three and called both the Howell County Sheriff’s Office and Ozarks Pet Rescue for urgent help.
“In that area, if you’re sitting on the road, you’re either dumping something or you’re broken down,” Ozarks Pet Rescue cofounder Tanya Meeks told The Dodo. “They would have died … if nobody found that suitcase.”
The suitcase did have a name painted on it, but the sheriff’s office says the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made yet.
When Meeks arrived, she was surprised to find the babies in relatively good condition.
“They were very, very fat,” Meeks said. “No fleas, no ticks — just a little dirty.”
The four brothers were timid at first — understandable after such a traumatic ordeal — but warmed up quickly once they realized they were safe.
“They’re definitely purebred Labrador retrievers,” Meeks added. “Energetic, friendly, so loving.”
Then, just days after the pups settled into their foster homes, Meeks received another call: a fifth 8-week-old Lab pup, found wandering in the same area where the suitcase had been dumped.
Black-coated and the same age, Meeks is convinced he’s a missing sibling.
Now, all the puppies are safe in foster care, getting vaccinated, growing stronger, and soaking up affection.
“I’m hoping they find amazing homes,” Meeks said. “And I’m really hoping they get justice.”
Those interested in adopting one of the suitcase pups can reach out to Ozarks Pet Rescue through their website.
