Stranded on a boat for a year, pregnant dog and her pal were rescued by brave Navy officers

While most owners give their pets the best life possible, countless stray animals suffer unattended on the streets. Hunger, harsh weather, roadside bullies, and whatnot? These helpless animals are forced to face the cruel reality all alone. A similar heartbreaking incident unfolded when two puppies living on an abandoned boat were rescued by a Spanish animal shelter, Patitas del Desierto (@patitasdeldesierto on Instagram).

As reported by Bored Panda, the dogs lived on the abandoned boat in Chile for over a year, enduring harsh weather, hunger and even a lack of fresh water. Notably, the boat was so small that it hardly provided any shelter to them from the heat. Not only that, a week before the dogs were rescued, they survived without any food or water, the outlet claimed. Although the dogs were eventually retrieved from the deadly environment and brought back to safety, the rescue mission wasn't easy at all. Well, for the complex mission, the animal rescue center teamed up with the Chilean Navy and local maritime police to bring back the dogs to the shore. 

"I told them that I would go after them the day I went to the dock, that I would move mountains, and I did it with determination and attitude. Without fear of being successful and with the help of a corporal, there they were waiting, happy to want to get off that boat. I feel happy because I did everything to get these dogs out of there, and because tonight I will sleep calmer—and so will they," an integral person from the rescue team shared with the outlet. Additionally, they revealed that the rescue was even more complicated due to the countless mesh nets at the bottom of the sea. "We could have been stranded, damaging the engine—but we did it anyway," they added.

However, nothing could break the team's determination and resilience. Initially, the local authorities and then the Chilean Navy tried contacting the boat's owner, but when that failed, they launched the rescue mission. Overcoming all challenges on their way, they brought back the innocent dogs to the shore. Following that, the team arranged for medical assistance for the dogs, considering their traumatic past. "Finally, they are on dry land now in our shelter. They have already eaten, they are resting, and hopefully, the people who said they had a temporary home for them will arrive on Monday with what they promised. In the meantime, they will stay at the shelter until they are sterilized by the veterinarian," an anonymous team member revealed.

Soon after the rescue, the boat's owner eventually reached out to the Navy officials, who then reported him for mistreating the dogs. "After we rescued the puppies, the owner went to the port captaincy, where he actually had the two animals registered. We also issued a summons to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for mistreatment of the animals," Ricardo Cáceres, the Captain of the Port of Iquique, said. What was even more surprising was that one of the dogs turned out to be pregnant, making the rescue even more crucial. According to the news outlet, both canines have been under the care of the Loreto Patitas del Desierto Foundation, hoping to find their forever homes.

You can follow Patitas del Desierto (@patitasdeldesierto) on Instagram for more such rescue stories.