Finch wasn’t meant to give birth in the cold woods

Finch wasn’t supposed to give birth in the freezing woods.

She was scheduled to arrive at Ruff Start Rescue on October 19, a pregnant mama ready to find safety before her puppies came. But when her owners missed transport, her rescue had to wait until the following Monday.

Finch had other plans.

On Thursday, October 23, before help could arrive, Finch went into labor, alone in the woods, with temperatures expected to dip below 24°F. By the time rescuers learned what had happened, she had already delivered eight tiny puppies. The plan was to meet her halfway the next day, but that meant one more night in the bitter cold.

Finch had lived most of her life outdoors, like many dogs in her community, where it’s common for dogs to roam freely as part of daily life. Her family cared for her but wanted better for her and her soon-to-be puppies, so they made the loving choice to surrender her to rescue.

When Finch’s foster mom heard the family was still outside, she couldn’t let them spend the night in the cold. She and her husband jumped in the car and drove three hours north through the dark to bring Finch and her newborns to safety. When they arrived at 10:15 PM, the little family was cold, exhausted, and mama was covered in ticks, but alive and safe at last.

Then, as if the night hadn’t already tested every bit of luck they had left, the couple hit a deer on the drive home. The car was damaged, but miraculously, Finch and all eight puppies were unharmed. It felt like something bigger was watching over them that night.

Now warm and safe, Finch is proving what a devoted mother she is: gentle, affectionate, and fiercely loving. She welcomes anyone who wants to snuggle her babies and watches them grow stronger every day.

Her puppies, Donte, Ant, Jaden, Rudy, Naz, Conley, Jaylen, and Julius, are thriving, each one a tiny miracle born from a mother’s determination and the compassion of those who refused to give up on them.

Finch’s story is one of survival, love, and second chances. She reminds us that rescue work is more than just saving lives. It’s about the moments when hope and humanity show up in the middle of the night, headlights cutting through the dark, determined to bring a family home.

This Give to the Max Day, your gift helps make stories like Finch’s possible.