This is an actual post from a rescuer on a group I monitor.
You aren't going to believe this....
It's been an interesting weekend. Thank goodness we didn't schedule an adoption event! I had already planned to drive to New Florence yesterday to pick up 3 six week old Chinese Crested/cocker spaniel/schnauzer puppies <I know! What a goofy mix>. Friday morning, I got a call from Kirkwood Petco saying that someone had 3 newborn shih tzu puppies that the mom had rejected. This was at 11 am, the pups were born at 4 am. I told them, over the phone, what they had to do to hand raise the pups, including every two hour feedings and stimulating them to poo and pee after each feeding. The lady said, "F*** that!", so I said that I'd be there before noon to get them. She asked if I wanted the mom, too. I said, "Sure!", thinking that if I had the mom in a different environment, I might be able coax her to feed her babies. I got to Petco minutes before noon. At that point, the 'lady' called and said that they changed their mind, that they were keeping the mom. Ok. Whatever. I went in the office to see the pups and she called again saying that she wanted the pups back, too, since they were 'high dollar dogs'. Great. She didn't want to do what they need done to survive, but she wanted them back. In the meantime, I'm in the office when I realize that these pups are 8 hours old, had never nursed and were as cold as ice. Petco wouldn't let me take them since the customer wanted them back but I said, "I'm not leaving until this is resolved. These puppies are freezing and I'm going to feed them, too." They said ok. I'm so glad that I stayed. I fed them tiny bits of formula every 30 or 40 minutes and held them inside my shirt to try to warm them. An hour later, that person still wasn't there to get the puppies. The manager tried to call her number and had to leave a message. Another hour goes by and he leaves another message. Yet another hour goes by and he leaves the message that if she doesn't call him back within 15 minutes, they will consider the pups abandoned. Imagine if I hadn't stayed to warm and feed them. She didn't care a wit about those pups or the way she was inconveniencing everyone else involved. Finally at 4pm <FOUR hours later> the manager calls her on his personal cell phone and when he identified himself, she hangs up on him! So he calls the district manager, who's been involved in this almost from the get go, and she said to let me take the puppies home but that if the lady wanted them back within 72 hours, I had to return them. That give her until 11 am Monday. I doubt that she'll try to get them back. I sure hope not. The are doing well at this point, two boys and a girl - 4 ounces each.
I had my drive to New Florence planned already so I had to take the newborns with me so that I could feed them. I picked up the 3 crestie mix pups and headed to Ivan's. One of them had an enlarged eyeball and I really wanted her to examine it sooner rather than later. They were super busy at the office so I just hung around and helped out where I could. She said that the pup has congenital glaucoma and gave me drops to try to save the eye. Three boys in that crew. All hairy hairless, all cute. All 3ish pounds give or take a few ounces.
I went over to my little Walmart last night to get some jumbo cotton balls to potty the shih tzu puppies and as I'm leaving, I drive past an SUV in the parking lot where a young couple is holding a sign that says: Free Puppies. Oh good Lord. Of course, I pull over and they only had two puppies left. I explained why this wasn't a good idea for the puppies. What if the person gets the puppy home and their parents/significant other says 'NO!' to a new pup? What if they tie it out? Will they get it vetted? Give it to a 2 year old? I asked what kind of pups - pit mix. Great. They are also 6 weeks old, born the day before the cresties and the same size. One boy, one girl.
I wormed and gave neopar to all of the 6 week old pups this morning. Everyone is eating, their poo looks great and they all seem to be healthy. Can you believe all of this took place in the space of about 30 hours? What a crazy life!!! I love rescue - I really, really do!
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