EAST CENTRAL 鈥� It was thanks to preparation and quick thinking from North East SPCA (NESPCA) staff that a newborn puppy was saved at the Harry and Eve Vickar Shelter in Melfort.
On Jan. 25, a dog they were caring for, Brownie, began to go into labour. This wasn鈥檛 a shock to the staff, and they had planned accordingly.
鈥淏eing that she is younger and a first time momma, we wanted to be standing by just in case she needed us,鈥� said Kristy Mason, shelter manager.
鈥淲e have cameras set up that we have linked to our phone, so even when we鈥檙e at home we would check frequently. We would give her an exam every day just to see how she鈥檚 doing, if there鈥檚 any problems, checking her temperature 鈥� just waiting to see the signs of her giving birth.鈥�
When Brownie did go into labour, staff were ready with a sterile cart holding pads, gloves, and antiseptic spray.
The first puppy was already born and laying on the floor when they entered the room.
The second puppy was a little more complicated.
鈥淲e saw that she did have a ruptured hernia, so we got to her and momma had cleaned her off a bit,鈥� Mason said. 鈥淲e were able to kind of hold the hernia so it wasn鈥檛 rupturing out further and one of the kennel attendants called the vet and got them to come down right away.鈥�
The hernia was caused by the umbilical cord getting ripped off the body, and as a result there was a hole in her belly with a risk to her internal organs.
Mason was no stranger to this type of emergency 鈥� having seen it with pigs in the past.
鈥淩eally most of my expertise is pigs giving birth,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e had a pretty good idea of how we could save it until the vets could come and fix her up.鈥�
While it took the veterinarian only about five minutes to arrive, Mason described it as 鈥測ears鈥� while she had her fingers pressed against the injured puppy.
鈥淚 was pretty calm. We didn鈥檛 want to be panicked around momma because we wanted her to stay calm during her labour. Especially being a first time momma, a lot of times it鈥檚 very, very scary for them.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 just a hole in her belly, so then their intestines and that can come out of their body.鈥�
Once arrived, the vet applied stitches to the puppy, and then three and a half hours after the start of Brownie鈥檚 birth and eight puppies later, staff could finally go home.
While it鈥檚 hard to gage a young puppy鈥檚 overall health, Mason said so far she鈥檚 recovering well, and was given the name 鈥淗ope鈥�.
鈥淪he seems to be eating well and isn鈥檛 acting out of the normal, so we don鈥檛 think we have too much to worry about, but time will tell.鈥�
Hope has joined her siblings as well as 11 other puppies under the shelter鈥檚 care 鈥� giving a grand total of 19 puppies.
This is the most the shelter has cared for at a single time.
While many details can鈥檛 be disclosed, the two litters that were surrendered earlier are the puppies of Brownie鈥檚 sisters and a shared father.
To the best of Mason鈥檚 knowledge they are all predominantly German Shepherd and husky mix.
鈥淭here鈥檚 probably a million other breeds in there, but that鈥檚 the prominent one you can see,鈥� she said.
鈥淎ll the puppies are pretty healthy and they all have some fun personalities 鈥� playful, very happy puppies.鈥�
In response to the 19, the NESPCA has sent out a request for public donations toward medical care, as staff can foresee 鈥渆xtremely high veterinary bills on our horizon.鈥�
鈥淭here are a lot of puppies to vaccinate and deworm and get their basic medical care done,鈥� Mason said.
Donations can be made through an e-transfer to [email protected] or at the Harry and Eve Vickar Shelter in person at Melfort.聽聽
Currently, the shelter has put a slowdown on taking surrenders unless it鈥檚 an emergency.
鈥淚f it鈥檚 not an emergency we ask that they can hold onto them a bit longer if they can, just to give us some time to get some animals adopted out.鈥�
The newborn litter is estimated to be able to be ready for adoptions in about eight weeks.
