The following story was submitted in the Pawsitively Picture Perfect photo contest. The top three finishers received $500 in cash, as well as $2,000 in cash and supplies for their favorite shelter. To read more stories, click here!

Lilly is a little dog we took in on the 25 of January 2023. She had wandered into our yard, and we've taken care of her ever since. She was skinny, scared. She was so weak and underweight that we couldn't even get her spayed, as the anesthesia would have killed her.

PHOTO: EMILIA DOJCINOVIC

And then, we learned she was pregnant. She showed no sign at all. She was still so very thin, so very light. On the night of March 1 to March 2, she started giving birth.

It was long, complicated. I stayed by her side all night to help... and I was shocked. She didn't birth two or three pups. She gave birth to eight of them. That small, 4-kilogram little dog had pushed eight babies out of herself. She almost died because of one stuck puppy who was stillborn.

PHOTO: EMILIA DOJCINOVIC

The following days were horrific. She couldn't eat nor drink. She was exhausted. She barely produced any milk. Three pups died. Lilly had to go to the vet every day to get infusions to stay alive. To give her the least possible work, we bottle-fed the remaining puppies.

And Lilly fought and fought through to survive. We later learned she actually was abandoned. Meaning this poor, ridiculously small dog, who wouldn't hurt a fly, was left to fend for herself while pregnant. Had to survive cars, jackals, other bigger and stronger stray dogs. Had to find food, which at this time of the year was almost impossible. Had to stay safe, and we had snow that got higher than her and terrible rainstorms. And she pushed through it. Also? Lilly is only two-years-old, and she's already gone through so much, and never got to live a real, happy dog life.

PHOTO: EMILIA DOJCINOVIC

Everything is slowly starting to get better, though. The pups are weaned. Lilly will be spayed soon. She is very confused, still hesitant, but she is gaining in confidence every day. She is learning to play and to sit. She also got her first ever chew toy. And she's enjoying every part of her new life.

I think she is a model of bravery and warrior spirit. Most small dogs wouldn't have survived what she went through. But she did. She deserves way better than what she was forced to deal with and I'm trying to give her the most normal, comfortable life she could ever get.

This story was submitted by Emilia Dojcinovic in support of 2000 Spays and Neuters. To read other stories from the Pawsitively Picture Perfect photo contest, click here!