By Kevin Smith
On a seemingly ordinary day at San Marcos High School in Texas, teacher Yolanda’s morning took a heartwarming turn. As she was heading to work, five tiny puppies emerged from nowhere, running straight up to her. Their presence was a poignant surprise, and Yolanda quickly knew she had to act.
Panicked and concerned, Yolanda rushed inside and sought help from her coworker, Belinda Peña, a senior administrative assistant at the school. Peña was alarmed to discover that the puppies had been abandoned outside the school in a cardboard box, only to escape it and wander around in search of help.
“They were like little scavengers, just roaming around, searching for food and water. They were really thirsty,” Peña recounted to The Dodo.
The summer staff, though on limited hours, sprang into action. They provided the puppies with water and comforted them as they awaited the arrival of animal control. Peña and the rest of the staff were relieved to be there to help.
“If not, who knows what would have happened?” Peña said, reflecting on the critical role they played.
As the staff awaited the animal control officer, they couldn’t help but fall in love with the adorable pups. “They were the cutest things with their big ears… just happy little puppies,” Peña described.
Among the staff, Kay Lynn Dodd, a school counselor, felt an immediate bond with the puppies. She decided to take one of them home, and by the time the animal control officer arrived, Dodd realized she couldn’t bear to part with the remaining four.
“The officer said, ‘It’s the end of the day, and I can’t guarantee someone will be at the shelter to intake them,’” Dodd told The Dodo. “And I thought, ‘I can’t have that on my conscience.’”
Dodd chose to foster the four puppies, ensuring they received their shots and microchips before taking them to her home.
In the month since their rescue, the puppies—now affectionately named Buttercup, Snickers, Bandit, and Rotund—have thrived under Dodd’s care. “They have flourished. They’re gaining weight and growing,” Dodd shared.
These four little bundles of joy have proven to be both mischievous and affectionate, winning hearts wherever they go. For those interested in giving one or more of these puppies a forever home, applications can be submitted online to the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter at this link. Dodd hopes that the puppies will find loving homes where they can continue to flourish.
After their rough start, these puppies truly deserve the best, and thanks to the kindness of their rescuers, they’re well on their way to finding their happily ever after.
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