Colorado Firefighters Thought They Were Saving Labrador Puppies… They Were In For A Shock
A local man noticed something moving in a storm drain and realized tiny puppies might be trapped inside. Unsure what to do, he called the fire department, hoping help would arrive quickly.
Within minutes, the firefighters were on the scene, ready for a rescue. At first glance, they were certain they’d discovered a litter of abandoned black puppies.
The fire captain later shared that the team had been convinced they were looking at newborn black Labradors, left all alone and in desperate need of care.
They even searched the area for a mother dog, but no mama could be found. Worried about the pups’ safety, they carefully scooped them up and headed straight to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.
But here’s where things got interesting. When they arrived at the shelter, a veterinarian took a closer look, and the “puppies” weren’t puppies at all.
They were baby red foxes! Captain Vaughan admitted he was floored. They were totally surprised as they never imagined these tiny furballs could be foxes.
It turned out the eight little fox kits had rich, dark red coats and big, curious eyes. The vet explained that foxes often have dens near the Rocky Mountains, tucked away in small, hidden spots.
People walking by could easily stumble upon a litter like this and mistake them for domestic animals. The Wildlife Manager for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife District told CBS News that this is a normal springtime occurrence:
“This time of year there are a lot of animals that are starting to have their young, and they have them in small dens that are places that we can encounter.”
With their identities revealed, the next step was figuring out what to do. They even tried returning the babies to the storm drain, hoping their mother would come back. Unfortunately, she never did.
That’s when the tiny foxes were transferred to The Animal Clinic of Woodland Park for specialized care.
The rehab team got right to work, feeding and tending to the kits around the clock. Terri, the clinic’s main rehabber, posted on Facebook:
“So yes, a litter of eight red fox kits was found in Colorado Springs and brought up to our great rehabber. Terri is losing sleep feeding them for hours, but so far, so good.”
With plenty of love, attention, and proper nutrition, the baby foxes began to thrive. Over time, they grew strong, playful, and healthy, ready to take on the wild as they were meant to.
When the day came to release them back into nature, they were well-prepared to survive on their own.
It’s a story that makes you smile, right? Firefighters rushed in to save what they thought were puppies, only to discover a surprise litter of foxes.
Yet, their dedication didn’t waver just because the babies weren’t what they expected. Every life deserves a chance, and these rescuers made sure that chance happened.
It really makes you stop and think, sometimes the tiniest creatures need the biggest hearts. And thankfully, these Colorado heroes had plenty of both.
