Stray dog finds love and comfort at Alabama Power plant

When a stray dog wandered onto the property at Alabama Power’s Plant Greene County a dozen years ago, workers there had no idea how she would end up touching them all.

They also had no idea the dog was pregnant.

The latter became apparent when she had five puppies a few days later. The former has been firmly established by those who have come to love the dog they call Pup-Pup.

Initially, they cared for the dog expecting she would find her way back home. It was soon apparent that Pup-Pup was home.

“Little did she know she went from hell to heaven when she showed up here,” said Christopher “Critter” Glass, mechanic-welder at the plant, who gave Pup-Pup her name.

Stray dog Pup-Pup finds loving family at Alabama Power plant from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

Pup-Pup’s five puppies were given to contractors and employees. Employees donated to have her fixed and she has been a fixture at the plant ever since.

“An all call will go out and everyone here pitches in for anything she needs, whether it’s food, medicine or a new bed,” said Elaine Fetzer, financial specialist at Plant Greene County.

Recently, Pup-Pup was diagnosed with kidney failure and is no longer able to stay at the plant overnight. Fetzer, who once wanted to be a veterinarian, has tapped into that calling in caring for Pup-Pup away from the plant. She takes Pup-Pup home at the end of the workday and dispenses her medicine twice a day.

“Pup-Pup’s never missed a day until all of this went down (kidney failure), so she’s taking a few vacation days, but she has earned it,” Fetzer said. “Now she is getting her weekends and holidays.”

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (Brittany Faush / Alabama NewsCenter)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Evidence suggests Pup-Pup had a difficult life before showing up as a stray at Alabama Power Plant Greene County but her life ever since has bee much more pleasant. (contributed)

Even before Pup-Pup’s current health problems, she has had challenges. A vet visit after she was hit by a car revealed she had been shot before her days at the plant. She has always been skittish around flashlights and flashes, possibly because she may have been shot at night when someone shined a light on her.

But at Plant Greene County, Pup-Pup gives and receives love.

The outpouring of love is tinged with sadness as her plant family fears Pup-Pup is facing her final days.

As Plant Greene County Mechanic Chris Cameron put it: “Pup-Pup’s been a great dog, never seen a dog as mighty as her.”