Alice Gill Shelnutt was sitting in a church parking lot when a man in a logging truck approached her. He recognized her as the founder and director of Southern Pup, a rescue for abandoned animals in the area. For the last few days, he’d seen a white shepherd on his route — always near the same rural Mississippi intersection. Could she maybe have a look?
It didn’t take long for Shelnutt and her husband to find the shepherd mix a few miles away on a lonely stretch of gravel road. Shelnutt was so glad to see her, and the dog wagged her tail in return.
As She approached the pup, asking, “Do you need some help?” the dog lay down, showing her belly. Shelnutt could see signs of recent suckling and scratching on the dog’s nipples. “Hey, sweet girl. Where are your babies?” she asked between pets.
Shelnutt went to the back of her truck and pulled out the only dog food she had — a carton of Milk-Bone treats — and fed the starving mama. Once the dog had eaten, she took off with Shelnutt following close behind.
“I had to give her treats that made her thirsty,” Shelnutt told The Dodo. “She started walking and she made her way through the woods and went down a ravine to a little stream and got some water. That’s when I really was feeling encouraged that she was producing milk. Once they get food and water, then their milk production will push them back to their puppies.”
As the family dozed off warm and dry, the skies opened up and rain began to pour down. Had the babies stayed in the ditch a few hours more, they’d have washed away in the storm. But thanks to the kindness of the devoted rescuers, the family was safe and together.
As the days have passed, Shelnutt can’t help but admire what a protective mom Marathon is and how lovingly she’s cared for her nine pups. And though she’s busy nursing, the shepherd still craves attention from her rescuer.
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