Piper is off to Canada!

Piper snagged a ride to Canada - way to go, Piper!

Piper has a new passion - TYPING!

Piper has developed a new passion - trying to help save other dogs!  (smile)... One of her favorite things to do now is to sit on my lap at the computer... Do you think she can ever master typing?

Oh, the flash interrupted her concentration!  Shame on you!

Rocky's a cutie pie!

Last meal with mom

With only one pup to feed, Piper has been giving her sole and devoted attention to Rocky... Rocky has turned into a blonde butterball who is just as cute as cute can be... But his milk teeth came in early, and as much as Piper loves her role as a mom, she's ready to wean this fine young lad now!

Picture of the last meal with mom is below - she's ready, God bless her little pea pickin heart and mother's soul!

Day five - Rocky made it through the night

We have named the male "Rocky" in honor of Dr. Amsel's pooch he lost a few weeks ago to cancer...

Rocky was up and moving around this morning as Piper jumped out of her box as soon as she heard me approaching... Rocky's belly is plump like you'd expect a pup's to be, but I don't want to jinx anything, so I will leave it at that...

For the first time, this evening I took Piper out into the backyard... She wasn't that interested in exploring the area at all, and followed me around the backyard and patio... But she seemed a bit apprehensive as a matter of fact... Could be she was worrying about her pup, could be all the strange and new smells bombarding her - who knows?

I decided to make the backyard visit short and sweet...

How can you resist that gorgeous face and look?  She reminds me of an old soul, a bit weary of what life has dealt her but also not willing to give up without a hard fight either!

Little by little, we have been able to get that coat of hers somewhat cleaned up...

Underneath all of that dirt and grime, she has a soft and beautiful white coat...

The incision in her belly looks great and her bottom appears almost normal again...

Geezie, peezie - if I live to be a hundred, I will never ever forget that visual memory I have of her when I first saw her... I am totally amazed she was even alive when we got to the facility - the determination and maternal drive to survive is a powerful, powerful force to be reckoned with!

Again I am yet amazed at her gentleness and sweetness... Most females would have been snarfy along some part of this journey... That would be a natural behavior (and somewhat justified as well)... 

B

But despite it all, Piper has surprised me and when you are older than dirt (as I am), it is great to realize that you can still be surprised --- that life will always give you something to learn and be grateful for... 

Oh, what an awesome and humbling experience this has been for me... Almost each and every foster teaches me something - or inspires me to continue to work in rescue...

Even in the worst circumstances, rescue dogs have an attitude for gratitude - they know just how bad things can be, and so appreciate any pat or loving up they receive from a foster mom...

Fostering has been one of the top five rewarding things to do in my life - right up there with being married to my husband and the birth of my daughter... If anyone has been considering this, I can assure you that for whatever you give as a foster mom (or dad), the rewards paid back to you in a dog's kiss or endearing eyes will exceed any efforts you yourself have rendered to the cause... 

Yes, it was not Piper's time to die and she proved it to us all!... What an amazing soul this little one has and she will make someone an awesome family member, companion and friend!

Day four...

I wake up each morning with a bit of dread, worried if another pup has passed on and this morning was no exception... The female pup who had been looking so poorly did not make it... 

I changed the bedding, cleaned up Piper's coat a bit and am keeping my fingers crossed here... She's eating great for me now and even POOPED!  I didn't think I'd ever be so glad to see that!  Unfortunately, she climbed out of the Xpen to do it, so I've decided to leave it open on one side so she doesn't do that again... 

I no longer have to hand feed Piper... When I come in with the tray and her meal, she now gets up and comes out of the box on her own... She even takes her meds without any fuss... And has a kiss for me afterwards, if you can imagine that!

Day three

We lost the two brown males during the night... I'm wondering if Piper's got bad milk and debating with myself about taking over and bottle feeding the remaining two... One seems to be getting plump but the other doesn't, so I am sorta/kinda thinking her milk is good... 

She's had a lot of meds, the litter was born in filthy conditions, she's got a LOT of nasty infection inside of her (when she was pooping during all of that, the uterus was apparently sucking in the poop that was pushed out around it) - there could be a hundred different reasons those pups aren't making it... I could drive myself crazy, trying to second guess decisions, options, etc.... 

Piper hasn't pooped for me since the surgery, so I'm worrying about that as well... She has started turning her nose up in regards to the commercial puppy food too... She's using the pitty pad and widdling, so at least the blocked uretha is functioning now... 

When I come in to feed her and love up on her, she readily gives me kisses and is glad to see me... This morning I took a leap of faith and switched her over to what my dogs and the fosters eat around here (Royal Canin kibble with home cooked chicken and rice, peas and carrots) - she did not turn her nose up about her breakfast this morning!  HURRAH... another hurdle overcome!

It seems though that we have gotten ahead of the fleas finally - when you pet her, they aren't jumping out all over you... We put garlic powder under the blanket and above the bedding - if they are jumpers, they won't find an agreeable environment there...  

I am emotionally shredded over all of this though... I can't stop worrying about her and the remaining two pups (1 male, 1 female)...I care about all of the dogs that I foster - other than not being allowed to sleep with me, I treat every foster like I would one of my own... I have bottle fed orphans before, and have never lost this many in a litter... But even after re-thinking all that I have done and the decisions made, I'm not so sure I would have done things any differently... 


It seems Piper is improving each day along with the male pup, but the female pup doesn't seem as active or fat... worried.