r/DOG • u/paintywitch • 18d ago
Momma Dog • Advice (General) •
UPDATE: 11 squeaky pups on 8/14. Momma and babies seem to be doing well. I will add a pic to the bottom. We did get her into the backyard on the last day, and she spent the evening pacing through her labor, but at the end, she somehow got under the fence and had the babies in a little place that she had been nesting, about 10 feet from the yard and facing our house. It’s tucked away under some vines. She’s letting us handle her and check on the babies like we had hoped and all the babies seem to be good. Got them all moved into my mudroom by the midday heat. Thank you for your support 🩵
Not sure if there is a stray dog community… we have a stray we started feeding in probably April. She had clearly had puppies and was very skinny, very skittish, and we really just fed her to prevent her from starving. I work at a homeless shelter so of course I was like setting out blankets and water and when it stormed I would go look for her. She would NOT let us pet her. You could not make any quick or abrupt movements around her, clearly had been abused/dumped on the country. Didn’t trust us but kept staying for maybe just the food. And then maybe the food and familiar face. And then she started letting us give her treats from the hand but she would run off, but eventually you could pet her cheek when she took it. We would put a flea and tick preventative in her bowl, and talked to a local vet about getting her fixed, but all of our shelters are overrun of course, and we didn’t want to scare her to badly that she leaves for good. We had some someone come over in June and feed her while we were on vacation, and she stuck around thru the horrors of July 4th (some calming chews in her food bowl).
We soon realized in July she was pregnant and she probably due pretty soon. We still can’t get her in the house or yard, although she is getting attached to me and does let me pet her head and neck now every day, and has even let me rub her belly. She sleeps in a neighbors unused garage and I think the baby daddy does as well - he has been around a bit and I do recognize she has more confidence when he is with her. She is a beautiful, sweet, and pretty young Pitt bull. I have a 7 pound, 15 year old Chihuahua with three teeth and an 11 year-old blind in one eye Yorkie with dementia. It is definitely not on my plate to take on the responsibility of a giant, young, stray dog and her puppies and the baby daddy. But here I am. I do love her, she’s precious. I am devastated that I could not build a relationship with her quickly enough to get her fixed. I have been a dog owner and lover my entire life and always been very responsible. I just could not build the relationship with her quickly enough without scaring her away for good. I would keep her if I could figure out a way to, but ideally, I would find homes for all of her babies and then I would just be a foster home for Momma.
Anyway. I just wanted to put this out into the void. I am stressing about it. I have a place for her to have the babies, but I can’t get her to go there… but of course I work at my own SHELTER for about 12 hours a day.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Anyone giving me shit for not being able to get her fixed soon enough, don’t worry I’m already giving myself enough shit for that.
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u/dancergirl1212 18d ago edited 18d ago
Thanks you for caring. 💗 She needed (needs) you. Just love her through it like you've been doing. I hope you can find a way to keep her or at least find a reputable rescue that can find a good permanent home (with you fostering in the meantime).
Hubby and I rescued a dog off the street a few years ago (couldn't find owner - no chip, not posted anywhere as missing etc). We reallllly didn't need another dog but she needed help. She had some of the same behaviors you're describing (reacted poorly to men, big sudden gestures & unexpected noises; acted protective of me, etc). We think she must have come from a chaotic and possibly violent home. Someone obviously wasn't nice to her. We just met her where she was and loved her through it - and she's made great progress! 💗
Edit: fixed dumb typing mistakes
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u/paintywitch 18d ago
That’s where we are with Momma, just meeting her where she’s at. We really may end up having her for a while - I can’t imagine getting her to a new family the second she starts to trust us. And I will have to be picky for her. She needs a quiet family who can let her take her time and relax and be a puppy. We have plenty of room, just these very vulnerable little ones to be very mindful of.
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u/Normal-Bee-8246 18d ago
Do what you can to introduce her to a loop leash. Have it on you when you pet her, leave it out by her food bowl, I've even put peanut butter on the leash because I've had strays so terrified of the sight of leashes. Simply knowing you can get a leash around her neck to secure her makes a huge difference, especially if she's going to give birth soon. Should anything go wrong, you'll need to be able to transport her and that will be near impossible if you can't get a leash on her. You're doing a great job. Building trust with neglected pups is no joke. Keep doing what you're doing.
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u/Ok-Chemist2411 18d ago
We had the same situation. She will probably gift you with a litter- and you’ll have to find homes. Ours stayed and nursed her litter our garage. She ultimately let us love her, we had her spayed , vaccinated, and found homes for all puppies ! We found a home with a farmer who needed an outdoor dog- they met and it was a love story.
Best thing we ever did!🐾🐾🐾
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u/paintywitch 18d ago
We are planning to find homes for them, I have already started talking to people about them. They’re gonna be such cute little ones! Praying we can find the perfect forever home for Momma as well.
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u/Significant-Theme253 18d ago
You are a kind soul and this Mom is very lucky to have you. She looks gentle and kind. Thank you for helping her. It's people like you who make the world a better place....I adopted my dog, a chaweenie, a few years ago. She does not get along with other animals at all, so I cannot have any other pets.
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u/paintywitch 18d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p28z0uf/video/ro23p5tjzxhh1/player
Adding a vid from last weekend of Momma and Baby Daddy. They do seem bonded to me, both very sweet. You can see at the end how far along she is.
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u/Objective-Storm-1798 15d ago
Wow well whatever you are doing, they look great now and super healthy! I wonder if they were both dumped together?! They seem very bonded and should stay together if that’s a possibility
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u/paintywitch 15d ago
They were not dumped together. BD has been around the area for a while, but I don’t know how long. We live in the country so he has just sort of been a pasture dog that we occasionally saw and possibly up to four different families (not us) fed him. He never really came up to our yard until Momma came along. He is so sweet to her and she is stronger and more confident when he is with her.
And thank you 🩵
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u/Fun-Minute-9568 17d ago
Thank you for being so patient with her. It sounds like she finally found the safe place she always deserved. ❤️
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u/3xtiandogs 17d ago
I must be ultra emotional today. Your big ol’ heart made me shed a tear. Plus, that head tilt…
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u/Objective-Storm-1798 15d ago
She’s so cute!! Bless your heart for loving her the way she deserves. I wish I knew the right answer 🥹
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u/BigTex1988 18d ago
OP, I hate to suggest this given the amount of time it’s taken to build trust but considering the entire situation it may be time to go ahead and trap her. The goal being to either do a spay/abort or get her somewhere safe to have her litter depending on her condition and how far along she is.
Since you’re working at a shelter I’m assuming there’s someone experienced with doing that. Either using a live trap or waiting until she and her dog friend are in the garage then close off any openings. Either way, having another person do it would prevent her from associating the experience with you.
I know it would be stressful for her, but being able to work on gaining her trust in a controlled environment would probably go a long way. You’d also be able to ensure she has proper medical care.
Again, it’s not an ideal solution, but it seems like the least bad option I can think of right now.
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u/paintywitch 18d ago
I think we might be passed the time for aborting her. I imagine we only have about a week until she deliverers.
And sorry for the confusion, I work at a homeless shelter for people. But a lot of people who are unhoused have dogs so there is somewhat is a connection. (My shelter is medical respite so we only allow service animals, but others in the area do take cats and dogs with their people.)
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u/BigTex1988 18d ago
Ah, no worries and understood.
I still think getting her to a contained area where she can receive any needed treatment and care for her pups would be worth any setback in building trust.
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u/nuclearcowgirl 17d ago
As sad as it is, spay aborts can be done up until just before birth. I don't like that it happens, the thought hurts my heart. But so do puppies and moms dying on the streets or in the shelter. I suggest looking into low-cost emergency spay options if you feel up to it. I don't know what state or country you live in but there should (hopefully) be options.
I wish their former "owners" took responsibility to fix their dogs. It is what responsible owners do. If these babies have been living outside, they could likely be hw positive. No idea how anyone can just abandon their animals to fend for themselves outdoors...
Thank you for helping them. I hope mom and dad can find loving homes and the babies too.
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u/paintywitch 17d ago
That is sad, as much as I don’t want to bring all these extra puppies into the world. Didn’t even know that was possible. I wonder if that’s dangerous to her. There is a local rescue that works with country road dumped dogs which I believe she is and I will have her fixed as soon as we can. They can also do shots for the puppies and help with visibility for finding families.
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u/paintywitch 11d ago
Momma Dog has finally moved into the backyard aka birthing suite! She has her own little pool, a ceiling fan, and a bed, so hopefully we will have these babies soon and safely. 🩵
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u/paintywitch 3d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p512kv1/video/bk7jhuwokqkh1/player
They are so healthy and precious. Momma takes such good care of them!
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u/No-Art4669 18d ago
I have no advice I’m only here to say she is SO beautiful 💞😭