Puppies Need Forever Homes After Tragedy

DENVER (CBS4) - Moe is about 10 weeks old, but was only 2 weeks old when his former owner shot and killed his entire family. While Moe nearly didn't make it out alive, he was transferred from his home in New Mexico and now has a second chance.

"It's a calling, they just call to you when they need you," said foster puppy dog parent Yamisell Barrero.

Foster parents Gary Daley and Yamisell Barrero welcomed Moe into their home less than 3 days ago. But it didn't happen by chance. Katy Cline, a volunteer for Paws on the Ground Colorado, an organization that helps find homes for pets, stumbled upon Moe and the rest of his family.

"I was on Facebook and I saw a gorgeous mom and all her puppies, and the dad at a shelter, and of course my heart broke for them and I saw that they only had seven hours to get out of the shelter alive," Cline said.

But their life before time in a shelter was only the beginning.

"They came from a family in Roswell, New Mexico, and the father unfortunately murdered his wife and four children," Cline said.

Mom, dad, and their puppies witnessed the murder ... and were later rescued.

"Tragically all the puppies survived in the shelter, and when they got out of the shelter we discovered they were very ill," Cline said.

Many overcame canine parvovirus and other illnesses. Sadly two of the puppies never did.

"It's amazing how an animal that's been through so much can still welcome you and trust a person, and love a person even though for a majority of their life they felt nothing but fear," Barrero said.

Now, Paws on the Ground Colorado hopes Moe, his mom, and his siblings will find a forever home.

"The best thing that we could do to honor the family who lost their lives in this tragedy is to find them an amazing home, that's our hope," Cline said.

Paws on the Ground Colorado says it will be another week or so before Moe is healthy enough to go up for adoption.

Additional Resources

For more information on how you can adopt Moe, his mom, or two of his other siblings, visit pawsonthegroundcolorado.com