New Staff Member At Arkansas Shelter Arrives Early Only To Find Something Shocking At The Door
When the newest staff member at Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals (CARE) showed up early for work one morning, she expected a quiet start to her day.
What she didn’t expect was to find a plain cardboard box sitting outside the shelter door with a message scrawled across the top that made her stomach drop:
“6 puppies… Around 2 months.”
Her heart sank. Someone had left six tiny lives behind in the cold.
Alexandra Mounger, the shelter’s executive director, shared in an interview:
“This is the first time she had experienced dumped animals on our property, so it caught her off-guard. Luckily, our program coordinator and I were not far behind.”
Before long, the rest of the team arrived, and together they carried the box inside. As they peeled back the tape and lifted the flaps, six little faces blinked up at them.
The little pups clung to each other on a worn cloth, shaking and confused. They were so small, so quiet, as if they still couldn’t believe what was happening.
The team wasted no time getting them settled. Each pup got a cozy kennel, soft bedding, food, and water.
But it was clear these babies were scared. Most of them froze whenever someone reached out, as Mounger explained:
“Pretty much all of them were timid and had a freeze response when we picked them up to move or clean them. Most would glue themselves to the back of their kennels … It had to be really scary being separated from their mother and put in a dark, small space with no food or water.”
Since CARE’s facility isn’t meant for long-term stays, the staff had to rearrange things to give the pups a safe space to play and explore. And that’s when the magic happened.
Once they were out of their kennels and into a little play area, the six siblings slowly began to show their sweet personalities.
Luke quickly became the loudest of the bunch, always making sure everyone knew when something didn’t go his way. He was adventurous and independent but still loved being close to his siblings.
Finn, on the other hand, started off as the calm, quiet one, careful not to cause any trouble. But once playtime began, even he couldn’t resist joining Luke’s mischief.
In just a few days, the scared little pups transformed into a joyful bunch, full of energy and love.
Thanks to CARE, Luke, Han, Finn, Kylo, Leia, and Rey are now all in warm foster homes where they’ll stay until they’re ready for adoption. For the first time in their short lives, they’re getting to experience what love feels like.
The rescue hopes stories like this remind people how important it is to be responsible pet owners.
Spaying and neutering, proper training, and reaching out for help when needed can make a huge difference.
And for those who can, fostering or donating to local rescues can quite literally save lives.
Even the smallest act of kindness, like sharing a post, sending a bag of food, or opening your home to a scared puppy, can make a world of difference.
These shelters run on love and hope, and every bit of help keeps that hope alive.
Because every dog, from the shyest little puppy to the most mischievous one, deserves a warm bed, a full belly, and people who will never give up on them, people who remind them that they were never really alone.
