09/04/2026
WEDNESDAY was a crazy day here at Shelter Friends!
On Tuesday, we were notified by a Good Samaritan of this VERY pregnant female Rott/Dobie mix who was dumped in their yard in the Lake Wapapello area in southern MO. The finder wanted her checked out before she would bring her inside. Unfortunately Tuesday was a very busy day so we did not have time to try to get her an appt.
Wednesday morning rolled around and we were reminded that this VERY pregnant dog was now leaking milk and needed an appt before she could be brought inside. We immediately got her an appt at Hicks Animal Hospital in Poplar Bluff, but the Good Samaritan did not get off work till the afternoon.
Knowing it was blazing hot outside, we asked if anyone else could take her in and the answer was a disappointing no. Finder had left her on her porch with a fan on her, which we knew in this godawful heat would not make a difference.
Finder got off work at 3:30, immediately went home, but momma was nowhere to be found!! Our friends at Hicks Animal Hospital assumed she had gone off to give birth! We were desperate!! In the last 13.5 years we have lost SO many animals on the night or hours before rescue was on the way and we hoped and prayed this was not another case like that! We were beyond worried that the puppies would dehydrate in the 100+ degree heat. Finders looked all thru the woods for her and could not find her. Despair crept in!
Then at around 7 p.m. they notified us that she had been found!! She had given birth to what we thought were 6 puppies under a camper across the street from them, but would not let anyone get near her or the puppies! She would growl when the family members tried to get close! So we prayed some more and begged them to keep trying!!
Finally around 9 p.m. we got the word that they had gotten momma and all SEVEN puppies inside!! They lured momma out from under the camper with food and one of their young sons crawled under the camper and grabbed all 7 puppies!! They were now inside safe and sound, but they reported that one puppy was not using its front legs. :(
Momma was so sweet, she let them put her in the shower and bathe her!
So, today, Thursday, off this whole family went to Hicks Animal Hospital to be thoroughly checked out! Again, being totally swamped this time of the year, we did not get an update today, but will tomorrow (Friday) to see how that little baby that could not use its front legs is doing.
So, whew, it was a CRAZY day!! Our thanks go out to the Good Samaritan/finder who worked so hard to find this momma and her precious pups!! They still need rescue tho! We have $460 in pl3dg3 money to any no-kill rescue that can save them!!
LOOK at those precious babies!! PLEASE share far and wide to find a rescue for them!!
