Emaciated Dog Mom and Pile of Puppies Found Alone in the Woods Make ‘Incredibly Rewarding’ Recovery (Exclusive)

Mary the mom dog is making a comeback after walkers found her emaciated and lying next to a pile of puppies in the woods.

On Sept. 10, the Stray Rescue of St. Louis posted on Facebook about the shocking find. “Imagine walking through the woods and stumbling upon….a pile of puppies! Then a very skinny mama, doing everything she can to avoid eye contact with you,” the organization wrote alongside photos of the emaciated mother dog and her pile of pups.

The Stray Rescue of St. Louis added that the Good Samaritans who discovered the ailing dogs alone in the woods were able to wrangle all the canines into their car. After contacting the organization for help, they brought the mother dog and her puppies to the rescue.

“I receive text messages, phone calls, and Facebook messages daily, asking for help. The rate at which animals are being let down is an alarming pace. When I received the photo of a skinny Great Dane mother, all of her ribs showing, and a pile of her puppies in the woods, I said YES! We will find a foster home for her,” Cassady Caldwell, the CEO of the Stray Rescue of St. Louis, tells PEOPLE of the moment.

“The Good Samaritan that stumbled upon these puppies made it their mission to get them to safety. The mom was so fearful, but they didn’t give up,” she adds.

According to Caldwell, the dog mom and her 10 puppies arrived at the rescue on the day of the organization’s golf tournament, so Stray Rescue of St. Louis decided to name the little dogs after golf greats. The puppies received the names Ricky Howler, Roary McIlroy, Tiger Woofs, Graeme McHowel, Betsy Jawls, Inbee Bark, Doggie Pepper, Louis Puggs, Arnold Pawmer, and Woofy Austin. The rescue named the mom Mary, Queen of Scots, since Mary is the first-ever recorded female golfer.

Once Mary and her 10 puppies settled in at Stray Rescue of St. Louis, rescuers went to work, searching for a foster for the furry family and getting them care.

“The mom was so thin. She has literally given everything she has to keep her babies alive. Other than being covered head to toe in fleas, they were in good shape,” Caldwell says of how the dogs arrived.

It is unclear how the dogs ended up alone in the Missouri woods, but the Stray Rescue of St. Louis believes Mary, the dog mom, has been on her own for some time since she was found skittish, dirty, and unsure of how to walk on a leash.

“She is a wonderful, selfless mother. I’m so proud of her. And I’m so happy she’ll never have to go through this again,” Caldwell says of what Mary has been through.

Thankfully, the Stray Rescue of St. Louis found a foster parent for Mary and all 10 of her puppies shortly after the group reached their facility.

“A wonderful foster family stepped up to take them in. Mom has been able to nurse her babies in peace. She’s gaining a lot of confidence and is falling in love with her foster mom. She has a great setup so that she can nurse and cuddle with her babies, but she can also get away for some much-needed alone time,” the CEO explains.

According to the foster family looking after Mary and her pups, being part of their recovery has been “incredibly rewarding,” especially with Mary. When the mother dog arrived at her foster home, she was “extremely skittish and frightened,” but after weeks of loving care, the adult canine “warmed up considerably.” Mary now greets her foster family with a wagging tail and accepts cuddles. She has also reached a healthy weight at her foster home.

Once Mary’s puppies are weaned, all the dogs will be spayed and neutered, after which they will be available for adoption. Caldwell hopes this story helps Mary and her pups find forever families in the future and encourages animal lovers to spay and neuter their pets.

“It is hard for us to keep our head above water most days. And we are not alone. Shelters all over the country are overwhelmed, stressed, and scared. Man’s Best Friend deserves better,” Caldwell says.