Why Expecting Mothers Need a Home. An Interview with a Dog Foster. Puppy Photos in Toledo, Ohio.
I talk about animal rescue a lot. It is the one thing I might leverage my business platform to promote. I believe that, as with many problems in the world, education and openness can make a tangible impact. There is a demographic of dogs in need that often gets overlooked or deprived the special care they need. Since working with Toledo rescue Planned Pethood, I have been able to document several litters of puppies and their mamas.
Expecting dogs and dogs with newborn litters are often found in local animal shelters. Some of these dogs are strays, found on the street. Some of them come from owners who were not prepared or did not want to have a whole litter of pups. We also see dogs surrendered when, purposefully bred, they encounter a health crisis during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth and the owners do not have means or interest in paying for emergency medical care.
These babies and mothers can be exposed to dangerous diseases and high stress when in a shelter situation. Having a foster home in which to give birth, learn to care for the puppies, and recover can be a true life saving resource. Those foster families can be difficult to find. Signing up for one dog is a big commitment, imagine having one mom dog and fourteen puppies like this litter! Planned Pethood foster, Heather, shares some of her insight from opening her home to these families in need.
Meet Heather:
How long have you been fostering? What organization do you work with? About 5 years, Planned Pethood Inc.
What inspired you to take in your first pregnant/nursing rescue? How many mommas and litters have you hosted? How many litters were birthed in your home? The thought of a pregnant rescue having her pups in a shelter without 24 hour care convinced me to take my first pregnant rescue. There was a lot of support available through Planned Pethood if I had any questions or problems. I have hosted 6 mommas and litters for a total of 51 puppies. Five litters were born at my home.
Why is it important for mother dogs to have a home to give birth in? I believe that the Momma dogs should be in a safe and loving environment where they can receive the care they need prior to, during and after the whelping process. Being in a home can offer 24 hr care and support for Momma and puppies.
What sort of care do mom and babies need until they get adopted? The first few weeks the mother needs the most support to nurse and take care of the puppies. The pups need to be weighed daily and observed to make sure they are nursing and gaining weight. Once the pups reach about 4 weeks of age the mother has started the weaning process and the puppies are started on gruel (soaked puppy kibble). The puppies need to be fed 3-4 times a day and training starts for using puppy pads for elimination. Momma is then transitioned to dog food (from puppy food) and the pups are transitioned to dry puppy food as they get older. All need to be kept up to date on all vaccinations and medical care until adopted. The puppies need to be kept in a clean and dry environment with plenty of stimulation and time for socialization.
How do you handle the hard parts of fostering a litter? Ex. Puppy loss, mother medical issues, sending the pups to their new homes and saying goodbye. There are many ups and downs in fostering a litter. The loss of a pup is the hardest. You shed many tears and question everything. You just have to focus on the fact that you have saved the mother and the remaining pups. I have lost a litter due to distemper and another litter that was born very premature. You bottle feed every 2 hours, supplement nursing puppies and anything that is necessary for these puppies. You know that you have done all you can but it still sticks with you. Mommas with medical issues can be unnerving as any treatment may affect the puppies. Sending a puppy to it's furever home is a different kind of hard. You have spent hours daily with these puppies, know each by name and have watched them grow and develop their individual personalities. The joy on the face(s) of the adopter(s) helps to make the saying goodbye a little easier. Many adopters send updates and pictures of the puppies. I would be lying if I said there weren't some tears (usually the morning of the adoption before the adopter(s) arrive). I keep each in my heart and know that once the last is adopted I can start the process over again and rescue more Mommas and puppies in need.
How can others help with this need? There are many ways in which you can help with rescue. Rescues are always in need of people to open their homes to foster, transport animals to and from appointments and events, help at adoption events, donate food, toys, piddle pads, supplies and monetary donations.
What was it like having Rebecca and Jessica host your rescue puppies in the studio? Taking the puppies into the studio for professional pictures is always a highlight of having a Momma and litter. Rebecca and Jessica are fantastic when working with the usually not so cooperative puppies. Most of all they are patient and loving with the puppies and make sure there is plenty of time for puppy cuddling. The pictures they take are amazing as they manage to truly capture the individuality of each puppy.
special Thanks to Heather and all the people who open their homes to care for rescue animals in need!
All photos were taken at the Rebecca Trumbull Photography Studio in Toledo, OH by Photographer Rebecca.
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