At a Glance
- A Labrador retriever mix named Maddie was found chained to a doghouse with her seven puppies amid rising floodwaters in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- One puppy drowned before rescuers arrived, with the mother dog carrying the deceased puppy in her mouth
- Wags and Whiskers rescue organization from Mobile, Alabama saved the entire family
- Why it matters: The rescue highlights the dangers of leaving pets chained outside during severe weather and the importance of proper animal shelter
A mother dog and her seven newborn puppies were rescued after being discovered chained to a doghouse in rapidly rising floodwaters in southern Mississippi, according to a Facebook post that sparked a dramatic rescue operation.
The Labrador retriever mix, estimated to be around 4 years old, was found struggling to protect her puppies as floodwaters surrounded their inadequate shelter. The harrowing situation came to light when Janet Lynn Webb shared details on Facebook about the chained family of dogs in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
The Discovery
On January 9, Webb posted on Facebook about the desperate situation after learning about the dogs from a woman who had discovered them during the flooding. The post included disturbing images showing the puppies struggling to stay above the rising water.
“There is a girl trying to help them and has reached out asking for assistance,” Webb wrote in her Facebook post. “She just went to check on them and found the property and dog house flooded. Sadly, the Momma dog is carrying a deceased baby in her mouth and won’t let the girl take her.”
The woman who discovered the dogs had managed to move them to a temporary dry spot, but Webb emphasized this was only a short-term solution. The Facebook post urgently requested help from the community.
“I’m begging – please share and tag anyone that you think may be able to help them,” Webb continued. “She has moved them to a dry spot, but it’s only temporary.”
The Rescue Operation
The plea for help reached Wags and Whiskers, a foster-based animal rescue organization based in Mobile, Alabama. Stevie Lynn Lewis, an animal rescuer with the organization, immediately responded to the emergency despite having no predetermined plan.
“The second I saw that sweet mama dog on that heavy chain, trying with all of her might to get her babies safe and out of that water, I just knew we had to do something,” Lewis told local outlet WKRG. “We had no plan at all, but I knew we had to help.”
Upon arrival at the South Mississippi property, the rescue team faced a devastating scene. One puppy had already succumbed to the flooding before they could intervene.
“Sadly, before we got there, one puppy had drowned, which is absolutely devastating,” Lewis reported.
The circumstances surrounding the dogs’ abandonment became clearer as the rescuers investigated. The property owner had died, and a family member had apparently taken over the property while leaving the pregnant dog chained outside to fend for herself.
Conditions and Criticism
Lewis strongly condemned the conditions in which the dogs were kept, particularly given the severe weather and flooding conditions.
“It’s just unacceptable providing a doghouse in the freezing cold and rain, that’s not shelter,” Lewis emphasized. “A dog on a chain that weighs half as much as they do, that’s not a life.”
The heavy chain restricting the mother dog’s movement particularly distressed the rescuers, as it prevented her from adequately protecting and moving her puppies to safety as the floodwaters rose.
Recovery and Future
Following the rescue, the mother dog, now named Maddie, and her seven surviving puppies are receiving proper care and attention. The rescue organization has optimistic plans for their future.
The puppies, whom Lewis affectionately calls “her seven little M&M’s” because they all have names starting with the letter M, are thriving under the organization’s care.
“Her seven little M&M’s, as I like to call them, because they all have M names, are growing daily,” Lewis shared. “We cuddle every morning, and every time that she takes a mommy break, she’s in my lap. She’s truly, truly grateful for her rescue.”
The puppies are expected to be ready for adoption in the coming months, giving them the opportunity to find loving forever homes where they will never again face the dangers of being chained outside during severe weather.
Key Takeaways
- January 9: Discovery and rescue of chained dog family in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- Seven puppies survived out of an original litter of eight
- Wags and Whiskers rescue organization from Mobile, Alabama responded to the emergency
- The mother dog Maddie and her puppies are now safe and recovering
- All surviving puppies will be available for adoption once they are old enough
