prwillard2
SILVER Star
Glad you were able to take care of this momma dog. She knew she needed help birthing her pups and found the right person!Things continue to keep my attention away from my landcruisers, most recently its a dog.
2 weeks ago, i walk out my front door to go to work and am startled by a dog lying against my garage door. Im immediately puzzled because to my knowledge, the entire property is secure with fencing. I crouch down and invite it over, and it walks to me without hesitation and begins accepting some love. Friendly dog, Heeler, female, about 30-35 lbs. Appears to be in good health, is clean, so obvious signs of injury or harm. Kinda fat. Has a collar on, no tag
As im getting ready to leave for work and moving trash cans out to the street for trash day, she shows me a 12” diameter hole in the chainlink of one of my rolling gates. Dog does not want to leave my side and when i went out of the fence, she needed to follow me. Any how, I leave the dog with a retired neighbor for the day and go to work. Post lost/found ads to facebook local groups to try and connect her with her owner. She stays with neighbor for 2 days and no one has claimed her. No lost dog flyers within a 1 mile radius. Nothing at local per stores. Nothing at shelter.
I get a reply on FB that a local woman can come scan her for a chip. She does, and no chip. She reports dog appears to be 2 years old, is in good health, and is PREGNANT. She estimates 1 week or less to birth. Wholy moly.
Neighbor has no interest in keeping dog, he has a s*** head cattle dog that has to be an only dog. It really needs to be put down for having bit 5 people in the last 3 yearsNot my deal though. I agree to take her back. I try hard to find owner with zero hits.
Last tuesday rolls around and she goes into birth the minute i get home from work. I had done some prep with a kiddie pool for delivery, and the woman that scanned her foe a chip came over to assist with the birth process. Out plop 9 pups. Ive gone from 1 dog (my terrier charlie) to 11 in 1 weeks time.
Today marks 1 week of life for the little ones and all are still here. Momma seems to be doing what nature intended as far as feeding and care. Ive got 1 runt, but she seems to be feeding enough and is pooping, so im just letting nature take its course. Had to give the mother some milk pills as it didnt seem she was making enough. Linger duration feedings and longer sleep times seem to indicate more milk production is occuring. I have also been mixing her kibble with plain greek yogurt to try and get her more calcium.
Ive never had pups before, and while my experience has been relatively easy compared to some horror stories ive read (hand feeding!), its still been an eye opening experience and fatiguing. I am hoping to raise all 9 to a healthy 8 or so weeks and will then find them their forever homes. Plan is to keep momma (Maggie Mae), but will see how she falls into place after the pups are gone. I do travel a bit for work and usually take my terrier with me (i drive almost everywhere, typically no flights), so she definitely changes that equation.
The alternative to NOT taking her in and giving her and her pups a proper safe place just was not acceptable to me. I hope these pups bring many years of love into their future homes.
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