It was early morning at Detroit Animal Care and Control, and the shelter hadn’t even opened yet when a volunteer arriving for her shift was approached by a man.
He told her he had dogs to surrender. She asked him to wait while she went inside to get the necessary forms—but when she returned, the man was gone.
Confused, she looked around—and that’s when she saw them.
Two tiny puppies had been left behind, locked inside the shelter’s outdoor play area, trembling and huddled against the fence.
“They were clearly terrified, curled up together and cowering,” a representative from Friends of Detroit Animal Care and Control told The Dodo. “It was heartbreaking.”
Fearing there might be more dogs abandoned nearby, staff began combing the property to ensure no one else had been left behind.
“Instead of an Easter egg hunt, our team went on a puppy rescue mission,” the shelter wrote on Facebook.
Once they confirmed no other animals were around, the two puppies were brought inside and given food, water, and a safe place to rest.
Starving, they eagerly devoured their meal. Slowly, the fear began to fade—and curiosity took its place.
“They started to come out of their shells,” the shelter representative said. “They even began playing with toys.”
Eventually, both puppies were transferred to Loving Hands Pet Rescue, where they continued to receive care and love in a foster home.
One of the pups, a sweet brown boy now named Zeus, quickly found his forever family.
“He’s already adored,” Loving Hands shared. “He’s the perfect fit for them.”
His sibling, a playful pup now named SpongeBob, is still searching for a loving home—but his spirit is shining.
“He adores playing with kids, toys, and other puppies,” the rescue said. “He’s doing wonderfully with crate training and potty breaks.”
Once abandoned and afraid, these two pups now have the love and safety they deserve—and a future full of hope.
To support more life-saving rescues like this, you can donate to Friends of Detroit Animal Care and Control.
