Dog Painted Like Leopard Found in Blistering Heat Clings to Life With Her Puppies

It started with a strange call. A neighbor in Phoenix reported seeing a leopard tied up outside in the sun — with puppies. But when the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) arrived on the scene, the animal in question was no big cat at all.

It was a 5-year-old pit bull terrier later named Rainbow Brite, painted with colorful leopard-like spots, suffering in 99-degree heat alongside her nine young puppies.

“The good Samaritan had seen Rainbow Brite tied on a short leash in a backyard in full sun without water,” Joe Casados of AHS told Newsweek.

At the time, the temperature on the concrete reached a dangerous 133 degrees.

Painted and Tethered in the Heat

When AHS Emergency Animal Medical Technicians (EAMTs) arrived with local police, they were stunned by what they saw. Rainbow Brite had been painted to look like a leopard — her body covered in spots. Her condition showed urgent signs of distress.

She and her puppies were quickly removed from the yard and rushed to the Lazin Animal Foundation Trauma Hospital.

Veterinarians recorded the mother dog’s temperature at a critical 105.7°F. “The veterinary team used cool towels to bring Rainbow Brite’s temperature down from 105.7 to 102.5,” Casados explained to AZFamily. She was also underweight — a dangerous state for a nursing dog.

The dog’s former owner voluntarily surrendered Rainbow Brite and her puppies, admitting they could no longer care for the animals. AHS transported the whole family to their special “Mutternity Suites,” a space created to help pregnant and nursing dogs recover in a calm environment.

From Danger to a Foster Home

After stabilization, the entire furry family moved into foster care. There, Rainbow Brite and her “sprites,” as staff affectionately called her pups, could gain weight and heal.

“We are still learning about Rainbow Brite’s personality and her foster family will help provide us with a full report,” Casados told Newsweek, noting the information will help place her in the right permanent home.

In the meantime, Rainbow Brite has captured hearts online. A video posted on the shelter’s TikTok account shows her nursing her puppies and calmly eating treats while a staff member jokes, “I heard we have a leopard in our mutternity suites.”

The clip has already garnered over 75,000 views.

Legal and Humane Lessons

This rescue highlights a broader problem. Despite local laws in cities like Phoenix that prohibit tethering dogs in extreme heat, similar protections do not exist statewide. Phoenix law forbids tethering during excessive heat, when heat advisories are active, or when dogs cannot access water or shelter. But statewide, these regulations don’t yet exist.

AHS used Rainbow Brite’s story to urge change. In a follow-up TikTok, they reminded the public that leaving pets tied outside in severe weather is not just unsafe — it’s potentially fatal.

“We are happy that her owner agreed to surrender her,” the shelter said in a statement to PEOPLE.

As for Rainbow Brite’s painted spots? “She did have her spots before we picked her up,” an AHS rep confirmed. “Eventually the dye will fade. But for now, she will keep people guessing if she really is part leopard.”

Rainbow Brite and her nine sprites are now safe. Once fully recovered, they’ll return to AHS for spay/neuter procedures and vaccines. Then, the search will begin for forever homes.

Their story is a bright reminder — painted spots and all — that kindness, action, and timely intervention can change everything for animals in need.