Rescuers Respond to Call About a Neglected Dog. They Find a ‘Leopard’ Left with a Litter of Puppies

NEED TO KNOW

• An animal shelter in Arizona was in for a surprise when they received a call about a “leopard” and some puppies in need of ***istance

• The Arizona Humane Society rescued a pit bull terrier named Rainbow Brite — found painted to look like a leopard — and her nine puppies from 99-degree weather

• The 5-year-old dog and her puppies have received veterinary care and are in a foster home together

An animal shelter in Arizona was in for a surprise when they received a call about a “leopard” and some puppies in need of ***istance.

On Thursday, May 29, the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) in Phoenix received a call from a neighbor reporting a dog in need of help, as she and her nine puppies were tethered to a leash outdoors in the scorching Arizona heat.

“The temperature that day in Phoenix was 99 degrees,” a representative from AHS tells PEOPLE, and a photo of the rescue shows that the concrete sidewalk was even hotter, clocking in at 133 degrees.

When the shelter’s Emergency Animal Medical Technicians (EAMT) arrived on scene alongside officers from the Phoenix Police Department, they were in for quite the surprise — the mama dog, later named Rainbow Brite, was painted with multi-colored spots, meant to make her look like a leopard.

“We don’t know how or when she received her spots, but the condition she was in when our EAMTs arrived on scene indicated she was in need of help,” AHS representative Joe Casados told Newsweek of the dogs’ conditions.

According to the representative, Rainbow Brite’s owner surrendered the 5-year-old American pit bull terrier and her puppies to the shelter, agreeing that they “could no longer care for them.”

Rainbow Brite and her large litter went from their old home to the Lazin Animal Foundation Trauma Hospital, which is one of the largest level-one trauma pet hospitals in the U.S. According to AHS, Rainbow Brite’s temperature was dangerously high, and veterinarians used cool towels to bring it down from 105.7 to 102.5.

Vets also found that the mama dog was underweight—a concerning finding in a nursing dog, as she needs “calories to help keep her, and her puppies, healthy,” the shelter tells PEOPLE.

Eventually, AHS’s staff stabilized Rainbow Brite. She and her nine pups — affectionately called her “sprites” — were transferred to AHS’s “Mutternity Suites,” a calming space dedicated to the shelter’s pregnant and nursing mama dogs.

Rainbow Brite’s spots also made her a minor social media star. In a TikTok shared to the shelter’s official account, a shelter representative visits the pit bull terrier in her enclosure and tells the viewers, “I heard we have a leopard in our mutternity suites.”

The video has over 75,000 views and shows Rainbow Brite happily nursing her litter and chowing down on some treats.

“We don’t know how or when she received her spots, but we are thankful she is cool, comfortable, and safe and getting the care she needs,” the shelter tells PEOPLE.

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According to AHS, the animal family of 10 will soon be available for adoption. However, for now, all the canines have been placed with a foster family.

“When ready, they will return to the shelter for spay/neuter surgeries and vaccines before AHS will work to find everyone a new, safe home,” AHS says, adding that the shelter has dozens of other pets in need of fostering.

In a follow-up TikTok video, the shelter heavily advocated against leaving dogs outdoors in extreme heat. It noted that tethering a dog outside in several Arizona cities is illegal.

“We are happy that her owner agreed to surrender her, so that Rainbow Brite and her nine sprites have a second chance at a new life,” AHS said in the video. “Sharing her story is a reminder for everyone that she is just one of the many pets in the valley who are tied outside in our extreme weather.”

“The [AHS] strongly urges pet owners not to tether their pets, as it is extremely dangerous,” the shelter added. “Rainbow did have her spots before we picked her up, and eventually the dye will fade. But for now, she will keep people guessing if she really is part leopard.”

Read the original article on People