Sad but, heartwarming story...

[rpcrowe]

When we received Mama Mia from a Los Angeles area shelter she was pregnant and did not look well. By midnight we needed to bring her to our 24 hour emergency vet. She was suffering from anemia and severe respiratory distress. Our vet also determined that one puppy was dead and in the birth passage. This resulted in the need for an emergency C-section. The vet and her staff saved Mama Mia's life...



The staff was also able to save the second puppy...



However, poor Mama Mia was too frail and sick to nurse her puppy. The staff tube fed the puppy throughout the night. In the morning, my wife put out a call for help to the San Diego rescue Organizations. They came through with flying colors with several offers to let Mama Mia's pup nurse from another mother.

We selected a rescue Chihuahua who had lost two of her four puppies. She and the pups were located only a half hour from our home. We were worried that the Chihuahua would not accept Mama Mia's puppy, but she instantly accepted the puppy and began to lick and nurse the little thing.



We received multiple offers from other rescue groups who would take our puppy and find surrogate mothers as well and some offers from wonderful rescue people who said that, if we could not find a mother to accept the pup, they would tube feed it 24/7.

What a wonderful vet and staff as well as a wonderful group of dog rescue people.

And thanks to that Chihuahua mother who accepted our pup as her own...

[NorthernFocus]

Yet another awesome story, Richard. You guys do good work.

[purplehaze]

Richard, the good you do makes the world a better place for me! Heartwarming story; precious photos.

[Rita]

Heartwarming and touching. What a joy to know that mom and pup are given a chance.

[flashback]

We had a structure fire today; nobody was killed, one person injured after re-entering the house to rescue their dog. Person suffered complex but survivable injuries, one dog lost. Sometimes it works out, depends on your perspective I guess. Glad to know yours worked out too.

[bnnrcn]

I agree with Janis. The people like you make the world a better place for me. I hope Mama Mia too will get better.

[Shadowman]

Intense story and great images.

[rpcrowe]

Latest update is that the puppy is doing great with her surrogate Chihuahua mom and that Mama Mia is also recovering satisfactorily.

[Shadowman]

Latest update is that the puppy is doing great with her surrogate Chihuahua mom and that Mama Mia is also recovering satisfactorily.

Richard,

Good to hear.

[deetheturk]

God bless Richard, keep up the good work!

[rpcrowe]

Here's a follow-up to the story of Mama Mia and her puppy who we named Summer...

Mia survived her double pneumonia ordeal after some heroic work by our vet and liberal doses of IV antibiotics along with oxygen. She just about lost all of her hair but it is growing back now. She still has a way to go but, she is looking a lot better.





As for the puppy, Summer; her foster Chihuahua mother has taken quite good care of Summer and Summer's foster siblings. The Chihuahua mom is getting ready to wean the litter, Summer included. The Chihuahua Rescue folks sent me these two pictures. One of Summer and one of Summer and one of her Chihuahua foster siblings...

We deeply appreciate the help that Chihuahua Rescue of San Diego gave us and the puppy, Summer. We also appreciate the neat little Chihuahua mother for accepting Summer and caring for Summer as one of her own.

[Mark von Kanel]

Hi Richard,

Ive just got back to work and have 10 weeks at sea I literally have tears in my eyes and would like to thank you and all of your people for the work that you do for these poor creatures. Ive left my 2 pooches at home and one of them is old and frail, i hope to see her when i get home for just a few more cuddles.

thanks again

[IzzieK]

Very nice heartwarming story as usual about your rescues...keep up the good work.

[IzzieK]

We had a structure fire today; nobody was killed, one person injured after re-entering the house to rescue their dog. Person suffered complex but survivable injuries, one dog lost. Sometimes it works out, depends on your perspective I guess. Glad to know yours worked out too.

This is where proper dog training should had helped. I had taught all the dogs in my care especially Tucker and Roxanne to come when called and practice that everyday everytime we send them all out to do their duties, at least once or twice a day, They may be in the middle of play or doing their backyard research but we practice calling them to make them come no matter what they are doing. It just takes all of 3 seconds to do it...

[rpcrowe]

Hi Richard,

Ive just got back to work and have 10 weeks at sea I literally have tears in my eyes and would like to thank you and all of your people for the work that you do for these poor creatures. Ive left my 2 pooches at home and one of them is old and frail, i hope to see her when i get home for just a few more cuddles.

thanks again

Dogs are just about perfect animals, if only they lived longer!

[Mark von Kanel]

Dogs are just about perfect animals, if only they lived longer!

+1

[csa mt]

This heartfelt story has also brought tears to this animal lover. How wonderful that people such as Richard cares so deeply so that innocent animals such as MamaMia & Summer have a chance to live a fulfilling life, filled with love.

Mia is such a beautiful little girl, and that pup is beyond cute!

[rpcrowe]

Mia has left us today to begin the rest of her life in her forever home. The couple who adopted her absolutely fell in love with her.

We are expecting Summer after her Chihuahua Mom weans her within the next week or two. I don't expect that it will be long before Summer gets her own furever home...

We are getting a second foster doodle (which including Sully and our Holly makes three doodles who will be living with us). We are also going to get a really cute black and white Malti-Poo (Maltese-Poodle cross) puppy. That will make six Maltese and other small dog breed fosters.

Our numbers vary by the day but by tomorrow we will have a total of three doodles and eleven Maltese and other small dog breeds.

We are fortunate in having a large home with tile floors and a large yard and can accommodate a large number of dogs. BTW: none of them live in kennels...

[IzzieK]

What a wonderful home you have for all your animals...just like when people passed away, I have no words enough to convey how I feel to the ones closest to them, it is the same as Mia, I am just left without inside, but happy she has had you and your wife and crew taking care of her before she left this earth. She will be in a happy place now where she do not have to be sick anymore...
Take care, Richard...

[rpcrowe]

Izzie...

Izzie, I am sorry if I gave the impression that Mia had passed away. Mia is well and happy and has been adopted, yesterday, by a couple who love her dearly. She was kissing them as the new family left our house...