Gracie

"Orphaned pups in care"

Gracie's Story

Around 10 a.m. March 17th, the coordinator received a call from a distraught lady who said she had 9 orphaned pups she needed to place as she could not continue to care for them. Our expanded mandate allows us to respond to dire emergencies if we are able.

The mother dog died tragically of smoke inhalation when a space heater tipped over. The owner arrived home to find a smoky porch and her deceased dog but the pups were o.k.

After some frantic e-mails to find placement for these babies, born March 12th, a wonderful volunteer stepped forward to take the puppies. Carol Kelly, who operates the Medicine River Wildlife Rehab Centre, was generous enough to take these puppies and raise them until they are old enough to be adopted out. Fortunately there are other dogs in residence to teach the babies how to be canines!

The pups were bottle fed every two hours around the clock, then gently washed with a flannel cloth to ensure their digestive systems keep working well. It takes a huge heart to take this task on, and AARCS is extremely grateful to Carol and her family.

For more information about the pups, please call Melanie at 403-887-2925. Donations for their care (vet bills) would be greatly appreciated and can be mailed to AARCS, 1 Garden Court, Sylvan Lake, AB T4S 1M4

Update 18 March 2007 Sadly, Carol Kelly left word with us that one of the pups died yesterday a few hours after she got them. She reports that three are doing very well, two are wheezing when they sleep, and the others seem to have suffered from smoke inhalation as well. She is treating them homeopathically as well as with antibiotics.....
..... so now we pray.

Update 20 March Four more of the pups passed away last night. Their lungs were really badly damaged and they just could not keep going. So sad. Two of the remaining ones are still congested and the other two are doing better. It's a day by day, or hour by hour thing.

Update 26 March The four puppies had a big afternoon on Sunday the 25th of March. Two AARCS volunteers met with Carol Kelly of the Medicine River Wildlife Rehab Centre and the lady who surrendered the pups, and her friend! Each of us were able to feed and hold a wee puppy!They are stronger by the day but two still have congestive sounds while they eat. Those signs are becoming less each day as they get stronger. Hats off to Carol and her volunteers for doing an amazing job.

The pups are going to be moved to a new volunteers' home where there is a spayed female dog who has "volunteered" her services to lick them and nurture them as they grow up. AARCS is very blessed indeed. There are three little boys and one little girl.

Update May 2007: Gracie has been adopted

Update July 2007: Gracie and her big brother Thomas are best buddies now, but it took some time.
it's so cute to watch them play!