She sat helplessly on the roadside, motionless and in pain. She was a pregnant stray dog, barely able to breathe, her back leg badly swollen and possibly broken. Cars passed by, but no one stopped until one did.
They named her Shrimp.
Shrimp was around 40 days into her pregnancy when she was hit by a car and left behind. When rescuers brought her to the vet clinic, she struggled for every breath. Radiographs revealed her lungs were crushed and her internal organs pushed upward, leaving only one-third of her chest space to breathe.
Surgery wasn’t an option. She was too fragile. And operating could kill the unborn puppies.
The vet made a bold decision: wait, monitor, and hope.
Day after day, Shrimp was kept stable with medication, nutrition, and close observation. Her pulse remained steady. Her strength slowly returned. On the 7th morning, something miraculous happened. Shrimp gave birth on her own.
Two babies were stillborn. But two were alive.
It was a moment of both heartbreak and hope.
The newborns, lovingly named Dry Shrimp and her sibling, were immediately cared for. They were weak, but alive. Formula milk was given. Shrimp, though exhausted, began eating again. This was her first sign of recovery. On day 10 in the clinic and day 3 after birth, the vet smiled for the first time. Shrimp had eaten a full meal.
Her will to survive was unmatched.
One pup drank milk strongly, eager and hungry. The other was weaker, taking slower sips. But they had a mother who never gave up on them even when her own body was breaking.
Shrimp’s story is one of quiet courage, motherly love, and second chances. She didn’t just survive, she fought for her babies. And now, they all have a future to look forward to.
