Sam noticed that when one dog got scared, another would step closer to them. When Max paced anxiously, Bella leaned against his side. When Charlie started to whine, Lola nuzzled his ear. When Ollie struggled to stand, Max lay down beside him so Ollie could rest his head on Max’s back.

Here’s a short, helpful story about — a group of rescue dogs in a shelter who learn the value of teamwork and trust. In the back corner of Sunny Pines Animal Shelter, past the playful puppy yard and the quiet cat wing, there was a row of kennels labeled Pack 18 . Inside lived five dogs, each with a troubled past.

On the ride home, the family’s youngest child asked, “Why do they stick together so much?”

They weren’t just surviving anymore. They were pack .