So, what were you doing to celebrate New Year's 2009?
David and I celebrated the New Year by welcoming a very pregnant 1 yr old female basset hound named Keiko into our home. When I accepted Keiko for Guardian Angel Basset Rescue Dec 28th, I was told she MIGHT be pregnant. Boy, were we in for a surprise.
On Jan 2nd, Keiko gave birth to 8 puppies, 6 boys and 2 girls. Each weighed less than a pound. Another GABR volunteer and I were there to assist Mom with the birth at my home. It was exciting and stressful, but all were healthy and Mom did fine. Since Keiko had not received her vaccinations and could not pass on any immunity to her puppies, my house was put in quarantine. We could not risk exposing the puppies to other people or even to the vet. So, from the day Keiko arrived in rescue until the day we adopted out her puppies, I was able to get instructions and answers to my questions via phone any time, day or night, from our great veterinary team. Once the puppies reached 6 weeks, the vet was able to check the puppies for the first time and the quarantine was lifted.
For the first 9 weeks, David and I, along with 3 other GABR volunteers, provided care 24/7 for these puppies and their mother. We had a few scary moments but everything worked out and we were able to adopt out 8 beautiful, healthy, properly socialized puppies, along with their mother, at the end of week 9.
This may not seem like a big ordeal for a rescue. In reality, very few rescues are in a position to whelp and raise puppies. Typically, puppies of unwanted dogs are born outdoors or in shelters where there is inadequate care. In either case, most puppies die. Most shelters know that they do not have the capacity to care for new born puppies, so they are forced to euthanize the pregnant females.
GABR has been extremely fortunate. We have had the financial support as well as the volunteers and the resources to create this happy ending. We have been able to whelp and raise puppies both in foster care as well as at the veterinarian's office. Certainly, we prefer not to have to provide this service but, the reality is, many owners are not spaying or neutering their dogs and pregnant dogs are coming into rescue much more often.
I hope that you will help us by making a donation to the rescue. With you help we can continue to provide this degree of service and care to all the dogs we take in. Without past donations, Keiko, Louis, Halle, Sydney, Ty, Izzie, Denzel, Fisher and Heathcliff would not be here today. We need to be sure that we have the financial means to provide medical care for these dogs. I need to know that the next time I agree to accept a dog into the GABR family, we can provide the care they deserve. Please make a donation today!!!!
I count on the support of fellow dog lovers, our families, friends and business associates to provide healthy, happy lives for every dog that we rescue.
Will you help by donating? Please click the sponsor me now link at the top of this page. 100% of your tax-deductible contribution will go directly to rescuing basset hounds.