When winter storms sweep across the Midwest, most people bundle up indoors, shielded from the unforgiving cold. But for two tiny German shepherd puppies in Cokato, Minnesota, survival meant huddling together under a porch, fighting to stay alive as the temperature plunged to an unimaginable minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Their story is one of resilience, luck, and the kindness of strangers who refused to look away.
Discovered Beneath the Porch
It all began when a local family noticed movement under their porch during one of the coldest nights of the season. On closer inspection, they found two trembling puppies pressed tightly against one another, using their body heat in a desperate attempt to ward off the cold.
The homeowners had seen these same German shepherd sisters wandering the neighborhood earlier that week but hadn’t been able to catch them. Now, seeing them hidden away and frostbitten, the urgency of the situation became heartbreakingly clear.
Hoping to find their owner, the family snapped a picture and posted it on Facebook. Within hours, the post caught the attention of Kendra Plaschko, development officer at Ruff Start Rescue, who immediately recognized the danger the puppies were in. Without hesitation, she rushed to the home.
A Rescue Mission in the Cold
When Plaschko arrived, she found the puppies exactly as described: huddled in the darkest corner beneath the porch, too frightened to come closer. Their distrust of people was so deep that no amount of gentle coaxing could lure them out.
“They planted themselves right in the middle of the porch,” Plaschko explained. “They didn’t move, no matter what I tried.”
Recognizing that she couldn’t gain their trust that night, Plaschko and the homeowners left food, water, and blankets for the shivering pups. The plan was to regroup and try again the next morning.
When she returned, this time with Meg Larson, Ruff Start Rescue’s intake manager, the two rescuers brought along a secret weapon — rotisserie chicken. The savory smell was impossible for the hungry puppies to resist. Slowly, cautiously, they crept forward, their noses twitching.
Larson reached out gently, seizing the critical moment. With careful precision, she managed to scoop the puppies into her arms and load them into her car.
Even then, Larson knew that warming them up had to be done carefully. Dogs exposed to extreme cold can suffer shock if temperatures rise too quickly. She wrapped them warmly but gradually, allowing their tiny frostbitten bodies to adjust.
Fragile and Afraid
At first glance, the homeowners had estimated the puppies to be around six to eight months old, but once in Larson’s care, the truth was revealed. Beneath their fluffy coats, the sisters were shockingly small and underweight — barely 12 weeks old.
Their short lives had already been marked by hardship. Both had frostbite on their toes, noses, and tongues, painful reminders of nights spent in subzero conditions. Yet miraculously, aside from the frostbite, they were healthy.
Larson suspected they had likely been born outdoors, perhaps in a horse stall or barn, before being driven into Cokato and dumped. Whether abandoned deliberately or lost through negligence, their survival in such conditions was nothing short of extraordinary.
Bringing them into her home, Larson began the delicate work of fostering. The puppies were terrified, skittish, and uncertain of human contact. They avoided touch, flinched at sudden sounds, and clung tightly to each other.
But Larson was patient. Each day, she sat quietly with them, offering food from her hand, speaking in soft tones, and allowing them to adjust at their own pace.
“The first time they let me really rub their faces, I definitely got teary,” Larson admitted. “Even though they’re terrified every day, they’re making progress.”
Delta and Cleo: Personalities Emerging
To give the sisters a sense of identity and belonging, Larson named them Delta and Cleo — short for Cleopatra. And soon, their distinct personalities began to shine through.
“Cleo is the littler one, and she’s actually the bossy one, which is cute,” Larson said with a laugh. “The big one is Delta. She’s just kind of a goof.”
Delta, the more relaxed of the two, approached situations with a goofy charm, while Cleo, despite being smaller, had a spirited streak that made her the natural leader. Together, they balanced each other out, offering both comfort and courage as they learned to trust the world around them.
Over the next week, Larson watched in awe as the sisters began to transform. What started as tentative steps toward human hands grew into moments of genuine connection. They wagged their tails, accepted pets, and even played with toys — milestones that seemed impossible when they were first pulled from under the porch.
A Brighter Tomorrow
Delta and Cleo still have weeks to go before they’re fully ready for adoption. They’ll need to be vaccinated, spayed, and given time to build confidence in their foster home. But their future is no longer uncertain.
Once timid and frostbitten, they are now safe, warm, and surrounded by love. Larson has cherished every step of their journey, proud of their resilience and excited for the day when they’ll each find a forever home.
“[T]hey make such huge strides every day,” she said. “It’s just amazing to see.”
Through the compassion of one family who refused to ignore two shivering puppies, and the dedication of rescuers at Ruff Start Rescue, Delta and Cleo have been given something they never had before: a chance.
From frostbitten strays hiding beneath a porch to beloved companions-in-the-making, their story reminds us that even in the harshest winters, kindness has the power to bring warmth.
