Final chapter written on saga of dogs abandoned along county road last winter

This lovable mug has been adopted into a new family, after she and 13 of her kennel mates were abandoned in a county road ditch near McCook, Nebraska, on a cold winter night in December 2013. Lorie Prestes, the board president of the McCook Humane Society, said that one of the 14 had to be euthanized because of illness, but all the others have found new homes. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The final chapter has been written on the saga of the 14 dogs -- including one pregnant mama -- dumped in a county road ditch near McCook, Nebraska, during a cold, winter night last December.

Lorie Prestes, president of the board of directors of the McCook Humane Society, said Tuesday that the last three males have been delivered to a rescue whose foster families will instill trust and love before transitioning the three -- Remington aka "Remi," Paul (formerly known as Damian) and Yadi -- into "forever homes."

The three males were adopted locally, but came back to the shelter. Because of trust issues that require special handling, "it's tough to take on a 'breeder dump,'" Lorie said. "At the rescue, Remi and Paul and Yadi can be rehabbed, and get out of their cages. It's most important to get them out of cages," she said. "We've had good luck with rescues."

The dogs found in the ditch were all small-breed, long-haired dogs that came to the shelter with dirty hair matted with twigs and feces. They were Bichon, Shih Tzus, Westies, poodle-mix, terrier-mix, Yorkies -- and any combination thereof. The oldest appeared to be about six years old; the youngest, two.

Lorie said that, sadly, one of the 14 dogs had to be euthanized because of an illness. However, she said, all of the other 13 dogs, and the five new puppies, have found homes, or will find homes through the rescue's foster system.

Lorie said she had 59 applications to adopt the puppies. "Fifty-nine applications for five puppies," she chuckled. "We went through the applications -- first-come, first-served, but they also had to be good homes," Lorie said.

The mama dog required an emergency spay as she tried to take care of her young brood. She recovered well, and found a good home, Lorie reports.

Lorie and her volunteers initially thought three other females were pregnant too, but they proved to have other medical complications instead. "We doctored them, and they've all been adopted," she said.

Lorie said the Red Willow County sheriff's department continues its investigation into who dumped the dogs. Anyone with information, or suspicions, can call the sheriff's office at (308) 345-1850, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.