When most families were decorating their Christmas trees and preparing warm dinners, Tessa Lee, a volunteer at the Whitecourt Homeless Animal Rescue Foundation (WHARF) in Edmonton, Alberta, was answering a call that would change her holiday forever.

On the freezing night of December 23, she was alerted to a heartbreaking situation: five tiny puppies were found on a property near Alberta Beach, starving, dehydrated, and nearly frozen solid. With temperatures dropping below –30°C, their chances of survival were painfully slim.

“I could feel their little bodies shaking in my hands,” Lee recalled. “Their fur was icy, and their cries were so weak that I feared I was too late.”

But she wasn’t ready to give up.

A Race Against Time

Lee rushed the puppies into her car, wrapping them in old blankets and even placing them near her own body heat as she drove back home. On arrival, she quickly transformed her living room into a makeshift emergency clinic. Heat lamps, hot water bottles, and towels became life-saving tools.

In a desperate attempt to keep their strength up, Lee used a trick she had once read about: drops of maple syrup on their tongues to stabilize their glucose levels. Every two hours, she syringe-fed them recovery food, refusing to sleep through the night.

Her family, instead of being upset, welcomed the chaos. “We’ve come to expect animal guests during Christmas,” Lee laughed. “But this time, we knew these puppies needed more than just food—they needed a miracle.”

The Struggle of Little Ruby

By Christmas Eve, four of the puppies showed signs of improvement. Their tails began wagging, and their eyes were brighter. But one—a fragile red-furred girl Lee named Ruby—still lay too weak to stand. Her ribs protruded painfully, and she could barely lift her head.

Lee’s heart ached, but she refused to let Ruby fade. She sang lullabies while feeding her, whispered that she was loved, and posted online asking people to keep Ruby in their thoughts. Thousands of strangers responded, sending prayers and holiday wishes.

“It felt like the whole world was rooting for her,” Lee said.

A Christmas Morning Like No Other

On Christmas morning, something magical happened. Ruby, the weakest of the litter, suddenly pushed herself up and stood—wobbly, trembling, but determined. She drank water on her own and took her first small bites of food.

“Merry Christmas, everyone! We have movement!” Lee posted joyfully, tears in her eyes. “Ruby has decided she’s not giving up.”

A Story of Hope

Today, the five puppies are recovering in foster homes, gaining weight, and finally learning what it feels like to be safe and loved. For Lee, the experience was more than just saving animals—it was about reminding people of the power of compassion.

“In the darkest, coldest nights, love and kindness can create miracles,” she said.

And for Ruby, that miracle was a second chance at life.