While out on her usual rounds, animal control officer Priscilla Wolcott of Fresno Humane Animal Services was approached by a concerned passerby.
The stranger told her about dogs in desperate need of help at an abandoned property nearby. According to them, there were two adult dogs and a litter of puppies hiding under an old trailer.
Wolcott expected to find one mama, one dad, and their puppies — but what she discovered surprised her. Beneath the trailer were not just one, but two mother dogs, each caring for their own litter of babies.
As she observed the scene, something even more remarkable became clear.
“They were actually nursing each other’s puppies,” Wolcott told The Dodo. “They just had each other. It was beautiful — they were helping raise both litters together.”
In tough conditions, bonded dogs will sometimes share the responsibility of feeding and caring for puppies, especially when milk is limited. These two mamas, alone in the world, had chosen to lean on each other to give their babies the best chance at survival.
Despite their rough surroundings and lack of care, all of the puppies appeared healthy and well-fed — a testament to the devotion of their moms.
Wolcott carefully gathered the entire canine family and brought them back to the Fresno Humane rescue facility. There, the moms were given names — Gorda and Ziggy — and each of their puppies received a name and a warm place to rest.
Gorda is now safe with her puppies: Iris, Lewis, Waylon, and Edward.
Ziggy is cuddled up with hers: Finn, Bennie, Alfred, Pandora, Breezy, Ringo, Nigel, and Turner.
“The moms were understandably scared at first,” Wolcott said. “But once they were reunited with their babies in a safe space, they relaxed. You could see their trust slowly begin to return.”
Over the following days, the dogs started settling in. While still cautious, their sweet and gentle nature has started to shine through.
Soon, once the puppies are old enough and everyone is spayed or neutered, they’ll be looking for loving forever homes.
After surviving abandonment, living under a trailer, and raising their babies together, these two amazing mamas — and their puppies — deserve nothing less than families who will love and protect them.
If you’re a shelter able to offer a space, contact rescue@fresnohumane.org. For adoption inquiries, reach out to adopt@fresnohumane.org.
