Rescued puppy “Roma”

ROLLA, N.D. (TMAR) – In the small town of Rolla, ND, a burly-bearded guy and his wife rescue 60-100 animals per month out of their garage with the help from animal lovers across the U.S.

Keith Benning and Wanda Gonzalez with Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue (TMAR) responded to a call on December 21st it was 24 below zero when they got the call that a mother dog and her puppies were trapped under a concrete porch. What happened next turned into one of the most heart-warming Christmas stories this year.

Keith rushed to the site, the ground was frozen, there was no way to jack up the porch without hurting the pups. Using a pick axe he hammered the frozen ground until he heard the squealing pups trapped beneath.

The mother dog and one puppy survived; the rest succumbed to the cold. Back at the garage, the lone survivor was barely moving and badly injured. Keith recalls in a video update, “This puppy has been through the worst I have ever seen. Bite marks, a bad infection and dehydrated. I honestly have no idea how she survived this long. I don’t know if she will make it or not, but if she doesn’t, she will pass warm and loved, everyone say a little prayer.”

They did everything they could but the little pup was so weak, unsteady on her feet, eyes sunken back – yet refusing to give up. For days she fought to stay alive but things didn’t look good. Keith and crew posted updates while people from all over the world prayed for a Christmas miracle.

The story took a heart-warming turn when a supporter from the United Kingdom, Sarah Foraud, wrote that she had just lost her mother, Roma. A beloved woman, a “wee petite lady of five feet … but she had the heart of a lion and a lot of FIGHT!” And so, the little brave puppy got her name—Roma.

Update videos were both sweet and heartbreaking—and sometimes amusing. Three hundred thousand people tuned in to the groups Facebook page to cheer on Roma around-the-clock. TMAR is the real deal when it comes to saving lives – what you see is what they see, and everyone watched, wondered and prayed. Would she make it?

Four days after her rescue a quick video showed Roma wagging her tail, then she pranced and eventually galloped across the kitchen floor. This tiny but mighty pup gave the rescue team and people across the world the best present ever, hope and happiness on Christmas day.

If you would like to see Roma and all of the other rescued animals at Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue (TMAR,) visit www.facebook.com/TurtleMountainAnimalRescueNetwork