08/15/2026
This is the infamous red heeler in Rolla that has evaded everyone for so long! Our ACOs are so dedicated and awesome. What a relief to have finally gotten her safely to the shelter, especially in a time where she (and her puppies!) needs that safety most. Way to go, guys!! Phelps County Focus - This is a heartwarming news story if we’ve ever seen one!
As the supervisor of the Rolla Animal Shelter, I want to commend my two Animal control officers, Erin Setzer/912 and Jess Switzer/933 for their professionalism, dedication and utmost diligence in spending most of the day rescuing newborn puppies from an almost inaccessible location.
The dog that is pictured has been roaming freely inside the city limits of Rolla for the past two years. Today she was finally captured. However, it was also discovered that she had recently given birth to five puppies.
The puppies were born in a deep cave like hole underneath a large concrete slab . Despite the very extreme heat and unrelenting humidity, both of these outstanding and dedicated officers literally crawled through the dirt, garbage, rocks and broken glass, into the hole as far as they could to try and coax the puppies out only to be unsuccessful.
Officers returned to the shelter, leashed the mother dog and returned to the scene. The puppies smelled the mother and after a significant amount of time, the puppies began to climb out of the hole and were secured one at a time by the Officers.
The Mom and all of the puppies are now safe and sound at the Rolla Animal Shelter.
I am so very proud of these two officers and the work that they accomplished today. If Officers Erin and Jess had not devoted their attention and dedication in rescuing these puppies, they would have surely expired.
Let’s give a Huge thank you to these two Wonderful Animal Control Officers for braving the extreme heat and unbearable humidity to rescue these pups and bringing them all to safety.
