Be Careful What You Ask For

Now that our days of long, long driving trips around Mexico are over, I have been thinking about getting a dog again. I have been checking out shelters and researching breeders. I just couldn't decide if a)I wanted a purebred or a rescue and b)if I really wanted that level of responsibility in my life again.

Early last week I came across an entry in our local dog rescuer's blog. She told the story of a poodle mix mother that was basically being kicked out onto the street......with her 7 newborn babies! Of course Alison came to the rescue and the mama and babies were safely ensconced with our local vet. I was strangely outraged by this story of neglect and heartlessness more than by any other I had ever heard.

It got me to thinking. Bob and I raised purebred Wirehair Fox Terriers and know a thing or two about how to raise a litter of puppies to be good citizens. Why not offer to foster this mama and help her raise her babies in a loving, calm, warm and nuturing environment? I had barely gotten the idea out of my mouth when Bob said, "Go check it out!" He didn't have to tell me twice.


So meet as yet unnamed Mama Dog.







She is as sweet as the day is long. She desparately wants to be a spoiled lap dog. You came to the right house, Baby! But first things first.


Meet the Puppies!






There are seven of them. I haven't counted the number of boys vs girls yet.** I'm too excited and am paying more attention to their health and well-being right now to worry about those details. And they all appear healthy. Fat little sausages at this point. One is a bit smaller than the rest but that means nothing at this age. Which, by the way, was 6 days old when I took this picture last Friday. They were born on December 4.


I feel like my whole world has been turned upside down right now. But in a very good way. I'm so enjoying this experience already. Of course, I don't have to do much at this point except ooooh and aaah and talk baby talk. Mama is very good with them.

For now, we are just fostering this Mama and babies with the intention that they will all go up for adoption when the puppies are 8 weeks of age. They should make wonderful pets for somebody by then.

Any bets as to whether or not one, or more, of them stays right here?

** 4 girls, 3 boys