Anyone who is involved in rescue knows that it has its highs and its lows. The highs are the best. Watching a sick animal eat for the first time, watching a kitten take its first steps. Seeing an animal go home to their new family. All these things and so much more are the best part of the job. But we all know with good, there is bad. It’s the lows that make this job so hard to handle sometimes. And last week was a week of lows for us.
When I get the late night call, the call after 4 p.m., I know it is not good. I know something bad is happening and someone needs me and needs the shelter. Well, Thursday night was no exception. I got the call from animal welfare and a local animal control officer that they were seizing some dogs and puppies in bad shape and bringing them to the shelter. So my mind kicks in thinking “Where will I put them? How bad are they? Should the vet be called?” And with no answers to all the questions, I go to the shelter after hours and wait. Wait for the unexpected, the sadness to arrive.
They get to the shelter about 5:30 p.m. and I know these two wonderful animal rescue ladies enough to know their faces say it all. It is bad. In their trucks, were a mom and 7 puppies, as well as a pup that was found passed away at the house. Also, there is a 10-month-old from another litter and the dad.
I have done this enough, this after hour emergency stuff, that I have a routine. All three of us do. We start doing intake, figuring out who needs to come into the shelter, who needs to go to the vet and where they will go from there. We bring in the dad and the 10 month old.
We put them in cages, then go onto the next group. They realize mom and one pup have to go the vet as soon as possible, so they stay in the truck and the ACO brings them directly to the vet. The animal welfare agent and myself, then bring in the pups and figure out how many there are, what sex they are and set up a cage with water bottles for warmth, soft food and water, to try and get them to eat.
They were so small and so malnourished. It was awful to see. After talking it over, we decide some are not in good shape and need special care around the clock. So I decide to take those three home with me. We get the other 4 settled in, do the paperwork and away we go, home to breathe and cry because that is what animal rescue people do after something like this. It never gets easier.
In the next few days, we lost the mom, another baby and the dad. We try our hardest, do all we can and more around the clock, but sometimes, in the end, their bodies are just tired. Their bodies just give up. We mourn their loss, but know we have to stay strong for the survivors. They need us now.
I am happy to say as of today, all seven are doing well. They are very tiny, sick and still need lots of care, but everyday they get stronger. Three are still with me, as they are the sickest, but again, I see them growing everyday. I see their eyes and I know they have fight. They want to live! All of these puppies though are requiring a lot of supplies and vet bills. Things we did not expect to have to buy or budget for. If there was ever a time to help seven sweet babies, now would be the time. We are using a lot of formula, canned and dry puppy food, pee pads, bleach and paper towels. Any donations of these as well as monetary would be greatly appreciated.
We promise to keep you all posted and for more pictures on our babies, we call them the “rock star” litter. Please check us out on Facebook. Keep them in your thoughts. I want to give a huge thank you to the animal welfare agent and the ACO who did such a fantastic job with this situation. Thank you as always for supporting us and all we do. We could not do this without you!
Heather Miller is executive director of the Houlton Humane Society and owner of Hoppity Haven Rabbit Rescue.
