Shelter life is not easy, no matter how old you are. Dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds end up in shelters every single day. It’s a blessing and a curse, and it’s part of the staff’s jobs to make sure a dog’s shelter stay is as nice as possible.

Puppies in particular tend to have a very tough time in shelters: they just don’t have all of the space a puppy needs. Lucky for one German Shepherd puppy, he has his mama there to look out for him:

Jonathan Simmers is so kind for taking these two in. He was able to save them from the shelter, at least for the moment, and give them a temporary home. Unfortunately, they had a rough start, with Jonathan describing both as:

They were certainly strays, though no one is sure for how long; they may have always been so, or they might have been booted out after mama gave birth.

Related: Baby German Shepherd Gets Told ‘No’ for the First Time and Turns Into a True Diva

From street life to a loving foster home, the mama dog knows it’s all tough on her puppy, but she won’t let it get him down. She loves trying to distract him with play, and lucky for her, he loves to play.

Ideally, they’ll find a home for both of them together; they seem to be thriving together. They’ve definitely formed a bond through their time as strays! While there are no other videos of this pair on the account, at least we know they were welcomed by some sweet cats:

I just know the kitties were such gracious hosts. This is not the first time their parents have done this, and I doubt it’ll be the last!

Stray Dogs Need Time to Unwind

If you take in a former stray, especially if they have a puppy (or several), you need to anticipate a longer “cool-down” period. All shelter dogs will take a little bit to decompress, but former strays will often:

3. Have trouble with potty training.

They’ve been on guard for so long, they just can’t help it. In time, they’ll come out of their shell. Just like these sweet pups!

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This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Jan 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.