This stray dog mom is named Nailao and often appears near the house. Up until today, people have been feeding her intermittently. This morning, I noticed she was carrying her pup to my doorstep. She carried the pup right in front of me. I told Nailao that if she wanted me to take in her puppies, she could take me to her nest to check it out.
Nailao seemed to understand the human’s intent and led them along a winding path. They followed her up to the edge of a wooded area but lost track of her there. The next day, Nailao returned with a different puppy, perhaps thinking that the resident hadn’t liked the one from the previous day. Seeing Nailao struggle to carry her pup, the resident decided to help. Nailao then led them back to a secluded, old tent deep in the woods—a humble shelter where she had given birth. Inside, she was nursing her puppies, nestled together for warmth and security.
After finding her nest, the resident began bringing food to Nailao daily, providing her with gourmet meals, premium dog food, and freeze-dried treats to keep her nourished. Despite being a stray who survived by scavenging from neighbors’ homes, Nailao was grateful and ate heartily, even if her pups occasionally interrupted her meal. The resident also brought her water to ensure she wouldn’t go thirsty. Seeing Nailao’s devotion to her puppies and her willingness to trust them filled the resident with admiration and compassion.
When heavy rain poured down one night, the resident grew concerned for Nailao and her pups in the outdoor nest and decided to bring them inside. While the temporary shelter wasn’t ideal, it offered protection from the elements. Wanting to provide a more permanent solution, the resident even started planning a shelter in the yard, despite concerns from family and the limits of their resources. Determined, they used bricks to build a small, secure space for Nailao and her puppies. Each day, Nailao faithfully returned for meals, knowing the resident would have food and care ready for her and her pups.
The resident took great care in preparing nutritious meals, like chicken soup, which Nailao especially enjoyed. They meticulously cleaned her shelter, laying diapers down to keep it dry, and regularly checked on the puppies to make sure they were safe and comfortable. Though it required dedication and time, this person saw the value in helping Nailao, who had clearly chosen them as her protector and provider.
Despite the challenges of caring for so many animals, including dozens of cats and dogs, the resident found joy and peace in supporting Nailao. Each interaction strengthened their bond, with Nailao looking out for her pups and showing trust in her newfound friend. The story of Nailao and her pups serves as a touching example of compassion, resilience, and the special connection that can develop between humans and animals.
Seeing her struggle, I helped hold the pup. But she kept looking longingly at her baby. So I gave the pup back to her, but she still couldn’t carry it properly. The little pup kept slipping from Nailao’s mouth. Then Nailao grabbed the pup by its leg and started walking, so I followed her, hoping to find her nest today.
The little one crawled inside. It was an old tent—could this be where Nailao gave birth? After looking around, I found Nailao’s nest here. She was hiding inside, nursing her puppies in this secluded spot. When Nailao returned, her pups immediately latched onto her to nurse. I took a closer look to see how many pups she had.
I counted three puppies, but I remembered Nailao had also brought me a little spotted pup that isn’t here. I found the spotted pup nearby, left by Nailao. I’ll bring it back to her nest. It seems Nailao went back into the nest without caring for her pup. Now, with all the puppies here, they eagerly start nursing.
I told Nailao to take good care of her puppies while I get some food for her. Since I have to go to work on the construction site later, I don’t have time to cook for Nailao, so I’ll give her a gourmet can. I added some premium dog food and her favorite freeze-dried treats. With so many dogs and cats at home, I have a lot of dog food stocked.
Once everything was ready, I brought the food over and called her to eat. But after calling her for a while, Nailao wouldn’t come out. So, I started feeding her bit by bit at her side. After a few bites, she got hooked and finally got up to eat on her own. Here’s more of her favorite freeze-dried treats. The poor thing was really hungry. Nailao’s life hasn’t been easy.
She survives by scavenging from many people’s homes, so she often struggles to get enough food. Whenever I see her, I give her lots of treats. She finished the whole bowl, and worried she might be thirsty, I brought her a bowl of water. After eating so much, she was definitely parched. As she drank, her puppies wriggled beneath her.
After giving her some water, I had to head to work. I left the water nearby for her and told her to drink whenever she’s thirsty. On the fourth day, Nailao’s young owner came home for the weekend and found the dogs gone, bursting into tears. It had rained heavily the night before, so I moved Nailao’s family inside since their nest was outdoors.
Today, I plan to cook some fish for Nailao to nourish her. First, I put the fish in to boil since it’s a bit salty. Once it softened, I removed the fish bones for Nailao. Then I added some dog food, a gourmet can, and a bit of fish broth for flavor. After mixing it all, I plated it to bring it to Nailao. When I opened the door, my cat Sunset was waiting outside.
I let her sniff it but didn’t give her any; this is for the dog, not the cat. Then I brought the meal to Nailao. She must have heard me coming because she was already waiting inside for me. After a couple of bites, she ran back inside, likely worried that someone might touch her puppies while she ate. Just a few bites in, she ran to check on her pups. Nailao is truly a devoted mother.
Because of the heavy rain last night, I moved her puppies inside. Though it’s not very clean here, it’s better than being soaked outside. If I can help her, I will. After all, every little bit makes a difference. Nailao would take a few bites and lift her head to check, afraid someone might steal her puppies.
At this point, I noticed Sunset had come down, which might explain why Nailao hesitated to eat. Sunset peeked at Nailao’s puppies. Nailao stopped eating, panicked, and jumped inside to check on her pups. I reassured her that no one would take her puppies. I was watching over them, so she could eat peacefully, though she still worried about her babies.
