With Mother’s Day approaching, we’re celebrating a very special mom — one whose courage, love, and strength carried her family through the harshest of beginnings. Meet Hazel, a two-year-old Australian Cattledog mix, whose heroic story shows the incredible bond between a mother and her babies.
In early February, Hazel was found on a lonely roadside in West Virginia, huddled with her ten tiny newborn puppies, fighting to survive as temperatures dropped well below freezing. Abandoned and alone, Hazel used every ounce of her strength to keep her pups safe and warm, even as she grew weaker herself.
They wouldn’t have made it if not for a good Samaritan who spotted them and rushed the little family to safety at Animal Friends of Barbour County. That moment changed everything.
As luck would have it, our Mobile Rescue Team arrived at the shelter to transport cats and kittens back to New York. But when the team laid eyes on Hazel and her litter, there was no hesitation — they made room for the young family and made the journey back to New York. “We immediately knew that Hazel was an amazing mother the way she cared for her babies on our trip back to NY,” noted Karla Scaramuzzo, Senior Rescue Manager. “We let her have time to herself out of the kennel as we fed and cleaned the cats along the way back to NY. While she greeted the cats with curiosity she kept returning to her kennel to sniff each baby. She often let us hold and snuggle each baby as she seemed proud of her beautiful family.”
At our Pet Health Centers, Hazel was found to be underweight, but miraculously healthy — credit to her strength and determination. We gave her a quiet space in our Nursery, where she could finally rest and continue caring for her pups in peace. Day after day, Hazel let her babies climb all over her, nibble her ears, and nestle into her fur. She was exhausted, but happy knowing they were finally safe. Our dedicated medical team made sure this family had everything they needed — from round-the-clock care to warm beds and full bellies.
This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate the power of a mother’s love — and help Hazel find the home she’s been waiting for.
If you would like to learn more about Hazel, please reference her adoption #WV1289, when you contact an Adoption Counselor at 516-833-7575 or adoptions@animalleague.org.