Time Flies!

It is Sunday, December 6, and Molly's pups are 4 days old!

Molly had a turbulent, complicated labor and was ultimately not able to deliver the pups. A terrified Sandy Bookman took Molly into West Park Animal Hospital for an emergency C-Section, terrified that all puppies might have been lost. In fact, four healthy puppies were delivered. Three girls and one boy. And there was great celebration!

One of the pups looks like Molly, the other three appear to be sable with white toes and white bellies and chests. They have short noses. Some have extra rear toes. We docked the tails, so as to improve their adoptability.

Molly recognized Sandy right away when she went into WPAH to visit the evening of the birth. She was a very happy dog. The next evening, mother and pups returned to the Mudpuppy Inn, to a beautifully appointed Puppy Suite. Mother Molly settled right in, and pups attached- and never seem to do anything but nurse!

The C-section was hard on Molly, and her appetite has suffered, and she has not been feeling too well, but she has been taking beautiful care of her babies. The vets and WPAH are reassuring that she is OK, and it will take some time for her to bounce back.

It will be fun to watch the little pups grow and develop-- to see what they become.

Molly Moves Fast

It is truly remarkable how fast a rescue team can move when truly motivated.

This is Molly. She was "dropped off" at a shelter in Michigan yesterday afternoon about 2 pm by a man who said "she might be pregnant." He also said that he "doesn't believe in spaying purebred dogs."

Molly is probably 4 years old. She is lovely. She is very close to having her pups. The shelter was so determined that they be safe that they contact ESRA right away. Kim Marvin, the Michigan Coordinator, appealed nationwide for help. Not every volunteer will take responsibility for whelping a litter of pups.

Ohio's Sandy Bookman said- "I will." In the long-standing tradition of great innkeepers, she agreed to find room in the Mudpuppy Inn for one more, for one about to give birth. And so Janice Scarbrough in Michigan, and other Michigan volunteers, moved Molly today to Ann Arbor.

On the first leg of her journey, Molly's mucous plug left, and Jan said a prayer and called downstream. "Let's move this transport speed up a little." Debra Westrick did not want to deliver puppies at her house this evening... so she just kept driving after picking Molly up in Ann Arbor. And she took Molly to Elyria, where Jim Kelley took Molly to Sandy's house.

Molly is now resting comfortably-- soft blankets, good food, lots of water, soft light, classical music. What more could a gal want? Did the Blessed Mother have it this good?

Not much more than 24 hours after reaching the shelter, Molly is settled into an appropriate place to give birth to her pups. And she will in fact be spayed. And her puppies will too. Amazing.

P.S. The owner dropped off Molly's AKC papers at the shelter today...