Impound #1492
We have a very long story that I still need to update here part by part.
A Stressed New Arrival
Here's our little girl on arrival from the pound.
Absolutely terrified. A biter who could only be handled with the safety of a towel.
She would stay, curled up and eyeing any perceived threat.
You may already know but we put our newbies in a very roomy crate for a few days to give them time to decompress. If any dog needed it, this scared soul did. She didn't even know regular household sounds or even ceiling lights.
Our plan was to have a vet check, then move her to our bitey dog carer for rehab.
But first, she needed a name. SPIRIT was chosen.
Of course, our vet visit was quick. She crammed herself in the back of her travel crate and couldn't be safely removed, so we didn't force the issue.
She'd already had a quick exam and vaccination at the pound. They also had her on two different behavioural meds. Gabapentin and Catapres.
She was weaned off the drugs once in care as a trial to see if she really needed them.
The difference between medicated and non-medicated was zero.
So she was moved to her carer as planned, for a very slow, patient introduction to normal life.
Absolutely terrified. A biter who could only be handled with the safety of a towel.
She would stay, curled up and eyeing any perceived threat.
You may already know but we put our newbies in a very roomy crate for a few days to give them time to decompress. If any dog needed it, this scared soul did. She didn't even know regular household sounds or even ceiling lights.
Our plan was to have a vet check, then move her to our bitey dog carer for rehab.
But first, she needed a name. SPIRIT was chosen.
Of course, our vet visit was quick. She crammed herself in the back of her travel crate and couldn't be safely removed, so we didn't force the issue.
She'd already had a quick exam and vaccination at the pound. They also had her on two different behavioural meds. Gabapentin and Catapres.
She was weaned off the drugs once in care as a trial to see if she really needed them.
The difference between medicated and non-medicated was zero.
So she was moved to her carer as planned, for a very slow, patient introduction to normal life.
One Step Forward
Skipping ahead. The day arrived when she was able to be touched with bare hands. Only on her face, but it was a huge achievement for her. She had overcome her terror. Just for a short while. And only once a day.
As she slowly improved, she allowed her carer to handle her a little better. That was when something came to our attention. Her tummy. It was full and tight. Did we really just see that? A fleeting glimpse but still there.
Could she be pregnant? Noooo, impossible! She'd been vaccinated and drugged. No possible way could babies survive that. Maybe it was just a tummy full of food. Or could it be her heart? Or her other vital organs?
We needed to get her examined but how?
The only option to get her in immediately was a cocktail of sedating meds. But with even the slightest possibility of a pregnancy, an SSR group decision was made.
One more week. No more than that.
She got just one week of handling before her booking - with a much more urgent schedule.
After what felt like forever, Spirit was taken to our vets wearing an Elizabethan collar just in case. Our vets safely drew bloods and calmly performed an ultrasound and x-ray with no bites.
This is where her story takes an unplanned turn. Remember, Spirit was rescued only as a behavioural dog to be given as much time as she needed.
Ultrasound found heartbeats. X-ray found four very well developed puppies.
I'm now going to bring up an uncomfortable topic.
The option of 'spay/abort' of the litter was placed on the table.
A spay/abort involves removing the uterus with the babies still inside their sacs where they stay until they pass away.
However SSR, as a Team, made the decision to give this little family a chance.
They had survived so far. And were fully formed, well on their way to coming into the world.
I am fine to take criticism on the chin from anyone who would have made a different decision. But this was ours.
This is life. This is rescue.
Sadly we also had to discuss what we would do if the puppies were deformed or born incompatible with life. We also prepared for every single scenario or complication.
As she slowly improved, she allowed her carer to handle her a little better. That was when something came to our attention. Her tummy. It was full and tight. Did we really just see that? A fleeting glimpse but still there.
Could she be pregnant? Noooo, impossible! She'd been vaccinated and drugged. No possible way could babies survive that. Maybe it was just a tummy full of food. Or could it be her heart? Or her other vital organs?
We needed to get her examined but how?
The only option to get her in immediately was a cocktail of sedating meds. But with even the slightest possibility of a pregnancy, an SSR group decision was made.
One more week. No more than that.
She got just one week of handling before her booking - with a much more urgent schedule.
After what felt like forever, Spirit was taken to our vets wearing an Elizabethan collar just in case. Our vets safely drew bloods and calmly performed an ultrasound and x-ray with no bites.
This is where her story takes an unplanned turn. Remember, Spirit was rescued only as a behavioural dog to be given as much time as she needed.
Ultrasound found heartbeats. X-ray found four very well developed puppies.
I'm now going to bring up an uncomfortable topic.
The option of 'spay/abort' of the litter was placed on the table.
A spay/abort involves removing the uterus with the babies still inside their sacs where they stay until they pass away.
However SSR, as a Team, made the decision to give this little family a chance.
They had survived so far. And were fully formed, well on their way to coming into the world.
I am fine to take criticism on the chin from anyone who would have made a different decision. But this was ours.
This is life. This is rescue.
Sadly we also had to discuss what we would do if the puppies were deformed or born incompatible with life. We also prepared for every single scenario or complication.
Stocking Up On Supplies
Quick. Quick. Quick.
Spirit was ballooning fast, as they do in the last week or two. Her milk line was becoming obvious. We clearly had very little time and no idea of her due date. Just that the puppies were very well developed and jostling for position.
I hit the online shopping carts with a vengeance to stock up on what we didn't already have. Raising babies is an expensive exercise.
Spirit was ballooning fast, as they do in the last week or two. Her milk line was becoming obvious. We clearly had very little time and no idea of her due date. Just that the puppies were very well developed and jostling for position.
I hit the online shopping carts with a vengeance to stock up on what we didn't already have. Raising babies is an expensive exercise.
Saturday 22nd August 2026
We were guessing due dates and didn't get this one right at all. What a surprise!
Way earlier than we thought, Spirt went into labour at 6am on Saturday the 22nd.
Then everything began...
Puppy#1 at 6.50
Puppy #2 at 7.02
Puppy #3 at 8.11
Puppy #4 at 8.20
All alive, all squiggling and immediately searching for milk. Spirit stayed calm, followed her instincts and cared for them beautifully. All this, just 6 days since our difficult decision to decline a 'spay/abort'.
Two are chunky and two are tiny.
Their carer has a lot of worry and work ahead of her, rotating the tiny bubs to make sure they get as much milk as they want and aren't pushed out of the way by their chunky siblings. We don't know if they are tiny because they are from a different dad, or if they won't survive. But they are going to get the best chance possible.
But for now we celebrate this entire litter's welcome to the world as smooth and uncomplicated.
That's all so far as it's only been just over 24hrs. Spirit is being a good Mum and also allowing careful handling of her puppies.
Please send hope and wishes for our little family. This page has just been started, please excuse the missing notes.
Way earlier than we thought, Spirt went into labour at 6am on Saturday the 22nd.
Then everything began...
Puppy#1 at 6.50
Puppy #2 at 7.02
Puppy #3 at 8.11
Puppy #4 at 8.20
All alive, all squiggling and immediately searching for milk. Spirit stayed calm, followed her instincts and cared for them beautifully. All this, just 6 days since our difficult decision to decline a 'spay/abort'.
Two are chunky and two are tiny.
Their carer has a lot of worry and work ahead of her, rotating the tiny bubs to make sure they get as much milk as they want and aren't pushed out of the way by their chunky siblings. We don't know if they are tiny because they are from a different dad, or if they won't survive. But they are going to get the best chance possible.
But for now we celebrate this entire litter's welcome to the world as smooth and uncomplicated.
That's all so far as it's only been just over 24hrs. Spirit is being a good Mum and also allowing careful handling of her puppies.
Please send hope and wishes for our little family. This page has just been started, please excuse the missing notes.
23rd August
26th August
28th August
29th August 2026 | One Week Old
Big Boy (Neil the Seal)
Big Girl (Daisy)
Dark Little Boy
Blonde Little Boy
31st August
1st September 2026
3rd September
5th September 2026 | 2 weeks old
|
notes soon
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