Dog Heat Rash: Signs, Treatment, and Prevention

11 German Shepherd Puppies Rescued After Being Abandoned In Woods

HENRY COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ/Gray News) – Animal rescuers found 11 abandoned German Shepherd puppies in the woods of Virginia, and the dogs are now recovering.

Henry County Animal Control said on March 5, they found four abandoned puppies near Chestnut Knob Road in Ridgeway.

Hours later, they received another call about seven more puppies a mile down the road.

The puppies were malnourished, covered in ticks, and tested positive for worms.

"It's absolutely uncalled for," said Allie Keatts, Henry County Animal Shelter Manager. "The Henry County Animal Shelter is an open-intake shelter for Henry County residents. We would have taken the puppies with open arms. There was absolutely no reason that they should have been dumped in the woods to fend for themselves."

The puppies are now in foster care through Virginia German Shepherd Rescue.

They say most of them are doing well, but a few are still struggling to make a full recovery. Four have tested positive for Parvo, a potentially fatal disease in puppies, and another has parasites.

"We encourage everyone to be responsible pet owners," said Sheriff Wayne Davis with the Henry County Sheriff's Office. "With the resources that we have here in Henry County, such as our animal shelter, the local SPCA, and even our surrounding localities, there's absolutely no excuse for anyone to have dropped these animals off in the woods like this. It's egregious in my opinion."

The sheriff's office is asking the community for help figuring out who may have done this.

They could be charged with 11 counts of animal cruelty and 11 counts of animal abandonment.

"If you're going to own pets, you need to be responsible. They need to be cared for adequately. They should be treated more like a family member than just an animal to be dropped in the woods. Please don't abandon your pets and leave them to die," Davis added.

Animal control also found a female German Shepherd they believe to be the mother in the same area a few days prior to rescuing the puppies.

She is available for adoption at the Henry County Animal Shelter.

An online application to adopt the puppies can be filled out here.

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11 'Starving' German Shepherd Puppies — 'Left To Die' Deep In The Woods — Rescued In Virginia

Two litters of German shepherd puppies found "deep in the woods" in Ridgeway, Virginia, are now focused on building enough strength to move into forever homes.

According to a Facebook post from Henry County Animal Shelter, Henry County Animal Control officers received several calls on March 5 about puppies running near a Virginia road.

Animal control officers responded to the scene and found "2 different litters deep in the woods scavenging for food. Only 1 mile apart from each other. Coincidence? We think not." Authorities found 11 German shepherd puppies in total "that were terrified, starving and left to die."

"These puppies were abandoned. Dropped on the side of the road to fend for themselves," Henry County Animal Shelter added on social media.

A german shepherd puppy at the animal hospital after their rescue from the woods in Virginia.

Virginia German Shepherd Rescue/ Facebook

Following this rescue, two of the dogs were well enough to be adopted from the Virginia shelter, according to WDBJ7. The county shelter transferred the remaining 9 puppies to Virginia German Shepherd Rescue so the canines could receive specialized care and time to recover.

Monja Vadnais, a volunteer and foster with Virginia German Shepherd Rescue, told WDBJ7 that the puppies arrived malnourished and covered in ticks. Five of the dogs, four of which tested positive for parvo, were hospitalized shortly after arriving at the rescue because of health issues.

All of the puppies are now out of the animal hospital and residing in foster homes, where they are focused on safely putting on weight and building up strength.

As of March 25, Virginia German Shepherd Rescue has spent over $35,000 treating the nine German shepherd puppies they took in from the group of 11, WDBJ7 reported.

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Once the puppies have recovered from the physical neglect they endured early in life, they will become available for adoption.

Those interested in adopting one of the pups when the pets are ready can submit an application for adoption on the rescue's website, where animal lovers can also donate to the puppies' care.

Meet Our Pets Of The Week: A Poodle, A German Shepherd Mix And A Quarter Horse

Prudence is a 1-year-old standard poodle who came to the Humane Society of Missouri's Maryland Heights in mid-April from a rescue HSMO did with the National Mill Dog Rescue. Like many of the dogs in this rescue group, Prudence is shy and will take some time to warm up to her new people. She is looking for a family who will be patient with her as she learns how to be a dog and accept love from humans.

To adopt: Call HSMO's Best Buddy Pet Center in Maryland Heights at 314-951-1588 or visit the website at hsmo.Org/adopt.

Sailor is a 2-year-old German shepherd mix who first came to the Humane Society of Missouri's Macklind Avenue headquarters in January from an investigation by HSMO's Animal Cruelty Task Force in Stone County. Sailor loves to play, and his favorite games are retrieving and tugging. He would love to find an active home that can give him the exercise he craves.

To adopt: Call HSMO's Macklind Avenue Headquarters at 314-951-1562 or visit the website at hsmo.Org/adopt.

Everest is an 18-year-old quarter horse. She was a part of a 2020 rescue that consisted of pigs, a goat, and several other horses. When she first arrived, she was significantly underweight. Through several months of rehabilitation and a strict refeeding program, Everest has transformed into a new horse. This bright and energetic mare has shown us that she is quite the spritely horse. However, she can't be ridden due to an old ligament injury. With experienced and consistent handling, the Longmeadow team is confident Everest will make an enjoyable companion.

To adopt: Call HSMO's Longmeadow Rescue Ranch in Union at 636-583-8759 to schedule an interview. In April, all 18-plus-year-old equine at Longmeadow have half-off adoption fees.

Last week's pets: Cardigan and Charlotte are still available for adoption. Nova was adopted on 4/21.

More info: You can support these pets and others by making a donation at hsmo.Org/donate.

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