When the Villalobos Rescue Center in New Orleans got a call about an abandoned mother dog in bad shape, they rushed to save her. They were shocked at her condition and anxious about her pups’ safety, since the puppies had vanished.

Mother Pit Bull rescued in New Orleans Image/Story Source Credit: YouTube Video – Animal Planet

As soon as one of the rescuers called out to her, the mother dog immediately wagged her tail and came running over. It’s as though she understood these strangers were sent to help her find her lost pups.

She then guided the men to a home just 20 feet away, where they could examine her more closely. They discovered that the mother dog belonged to a man who was currently in jail. The man’s flatmate had the puppies and claimed he was looking after the mother dog and her litter — but it quickly became clear to the rescuers that this was not true.

Rescuers with the mother dog Image/Story Source Credit: YouTube Video – Animal Planet

The workers pursued legal help when they couldn’t persuade the man to surrender the puppies, and sure enough, they received legal authorization to remove the puppies and return them to their mother.

Mother dog reunited with her puppies Image/Story Source Credit: YouTube Video – Animal Planet

Although a few of the puppies appeared weary, they nursed immediately when reintroduced to their mother. The gratitude in the mama dog’s eyes as she was finally reunited with her pups was impossible to miss.

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Watch: Mama Dog Is Reunited With Her Puppies | Pit Bulls & Parolees