Skip to Content

11 Helpless Puppies Abandoned at Busy Intersection Beg To Be Rescued

Puppies seeking shelter. Image by Great Plains SPCA via Facebook

Early one morning, the staff at Great Plains SPCA (GPSPCA) received a heart-stopping call from a community member. At an intersection in Shawnee, Kansas, a crate filled with 11 helpless puppies had been discovered. They had no food, water, or protection. And worst of all, a storm was on the way.

The concerned citizen who found the puppies knew they couldn’t survive much longer on the busy roadside, especially with rainstorms fast approaching. “They had nothing to protect them from the elements,” explained Victoria Roland-Vaughn, GPSPCA’s social media coordinator. Acting quickly, the rescuer loaded the litter into their car and headed straight for GPSPCA’s headquarters.

An Urgent Call for Fosters

Puppies waiting at the shelter.
Puppies waiting at the shelter. Image by @GreatPlainsSPCA via Facebook

Though relieved to see the puppies safe, shelter staff faced a new challenge: protecting the vulnerable litter from illness. The shelter was already caring for dogs exposed to parvovirus, a highly contagious disease. “With parvo-positive puppies already onsite, we simply could not keep more young dogs at our shelter for their safety,” Roland-Vaughn shared.

GPSPCA acted fast, posting an urgent request on social media for emergency fosters to step up. In the meantime, the puppies huddled together in a kennel, far from the sick animals, where they took a much-needed nap. “They immediately fell asleep once they realized they were safe,” the shelter wrote, relieved that the pups were finally able to rest.

A Community Comes to the Rescue

Puppies trying to impress visitors
Puppies trying to impress visitors. Image by @GreatPlainsSPCA via Facebook

By the next morning, the shelter’s plea worked: six of the eleven puppies had found foster homes. Still, five pups remained at the shelter. Each eagerly wagging their tails trying to charm any visitor who passed by their kennel.

Within hours, the shelter received a few more applications, and the remaining puppies were placed in foster care. “Our community stepped up in a massive way,” Roland-Vaughn said, grateful for the outpouring of support. The entire litter was finally safe, allowing the staff a moment of peace after a tense 24 hours.

The puppies will spend the next three weeks in foster care, giving them time to grow and prepare for adoption. “Now that these pups are in foster care, they are blossoming into the happiest puppies you’ve ever seen,” Roland-Vaughn shared warmly.

A Bright Future for the Litter

Puppies exploring their new situation
Puppies exploring their new situation. Image by @GreatPlainsSPCA via Facebook

Despite the rough start to their lives, these puppies now have a second chance at happiness. GPSPCA staff are excited to watch them thrive and eventually find their way into loving homes forever. “It’s thanks to the dedication of our community that these puppies can frolic and learn what it means to be loved,” Roland-Vaughn said.

If you live in the Kansas City area and want to support pets like these puppies, GPSPCA is always in need of fosters. You can email them at foster@greatplainsspca.org to find out how you can help. With more people willing to open their homes, every pet can have the happy ending they deserve.