For every pet living with a happy family, there is an animal in a shelter waiting to find a loving home. Today we'd like you to meet Pickles, a mama retriever mix who was plucked from an abusive situation in New Mexico.
Pickles came to the Watermelon Mountain Ranch in Rio Rancho, N.M., five months ago, one of 45 golden retriever mixes rescued from a hoarder. "The animals were living under a dilapidated shack and fought over food that was tossed over the fence by the owner," public affairs director Michael Howard-Davis tells PEOPLEPets.com. "The dogs were malnourished, and covered in scars that were caused by nails hammered through the shack's floor."
When Pickles arrived at Watermelon Mountain, she was "terrified and in a near-feral state," Howard-Davis says. But what workers didn't realize then was that she was also pregnant. Luckily, Pickles has made "great progress" in the time since her rescue, learning to walk on a leash, following basic commands –and giving birth to several healthy puppies. The whole group will be ready for adoption this weekend.
Watermelon Mountain Ranch is New Mexico's largest no-kill animal shelter. The organization, founded in 1996, targets Albuquerque and the surrounding areas, and has rescued and placed more than 20,000 pets since its inception. In addition to shelter services, staffers work with local youth groups, educating about animal care and overpopulation.
The organization relies on donations and supplies to keep its rescue operations going, so visit its website to learn how you can help.
Meet more adoptable animals on PEOPLEPets.com:
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