Happy Two Week Birthday

Two weeks old - On July 20th the pups turned two weeks old. Their eyes just starting to open they motored around their makeshift whelping box and were surprisingly quick. Momma Ruby entering the room produced mayhem and madness as all gave their best army crawl sprint in her direction. Momma Ruby take great care of the wee ones and they are healthy chunky little peanuts. Of course really all they do is eat and sleep and eat and sleep and sprint to mom and eat and sleep. They love to snuggle up with each other either all together or in their little groupings. I'm going to post some pictures but I wish I could figure out how to post them where I want them to be. Since I can't, I'll put a new post up in a sec...

Brand Spanking New

These are some of Ruby's babies on the night of their birth...brand spanking new.

What I Did On Summer Vacation

Here's what I did on summer vacation...OK, actually it is what I did on the night of Monday, July 6, 2009. It is what Ruby, Jake and Annie did on summer vacation. But first, we must go back just a bit, start at the beginning, or at least we must start at Ruby's new beginning. This is actually Ruby's story after all.

"She's my favorite dog at the shelter, it's not that she's all that much to look at, I mean she's sort of pretty but nothing really out of the ordinary, she's kind of plain, it's just that there is something about her face, something in her eyes..." This was my introduction to Ruby. A mixed bag, a sort of oddly unenthusiastic enthusiastic review. It was followed up with the written word, "Pretty golden coat, silkier than it looks in the pictures. 65-70lbs, around 2-3 years old.I know she doesn't look like anything very exciting, but I really liked this dog - she's just very sweet, affectionate, and intelligent." A little better? Perhaps.

Fortunately for Ruby someone I know and respect was behind these words. Trusting my friend and reading between the lines (where it really said, "I like this dog, I really like this dog, please save this dog, even if she isn't the prettiest girl out there, please save this dog"), Ruby got her ticket on the Freedom Train.

And so it came to be that Ruby joined the Safe Hands family on June 5, 2009. She arrived bewildered and overwhelmed. Her silky hair covered the fact that her bones jutted out of her malnourished body. Her pretty eyes were clouded with fear and uncertainty. Fate, destiny, kismet, whatever you want to call it, Ruby managed that night to find Jake and work her way under his skin. His calm demeanor and patience were what Ruby really needed and she went home with Jake and Annie to foster.

Ruby blossomed in Jake and Annie's care. She enjoyed her walks and was equally happy lounging around the yard and home with her new found friends. But funny things started to happen. Ruby gained weight but it soon became apparent that it wasn't very equally dispersed. She started to be a little slow getting up and seemed to sometimes have trouble. Did she have hip trouble? The day she was to be spayed I saw her for the first time in two weeks. Reality came and smacked me in the face as it has a way of doing. It was undeniable. Ruby's trouble was not in her hips, it was in her belly. Ruby was about to be a mom.

A vet visit predicted that babies would be joining us within the week and prepared us for a minimum of 8 pups. A make shift whelping box was prepared, supplies were gathered, and we waited. Ruby's girth seemed to expand as we watched. And on the sixth day, it was time.

If anyone tells you about the "miracle" of birth in happy, glowing tones, don't trust them. It was a messy business. It was a very colorful but still messy business and it smelled like damp earth and musk. It lasted all night long with the first puppy making his grand entrance at about 2:00 am and the lollygagging , eleventh, last one out joining the rest of us at 6:30 am. Yes, if you are reading closely you read that right. Eleven. One more time, Eleven. Seven bouncing boys, four bubbly girls and one EXHAUSTED momma. And one long and sleepless night for all.

Check back for updates on Ruby's pups progress and watch them grow!

A Sad Day for Safe Hands 3-24-09

I just wanted to update anyone who is following the blog.

Ditto passed away last night after a courageous battle with an unknown illness. Thanks to everyone for the thoughts, prayers and kind words.

The rescue is in desperate need of funds to cover Dittos medical costs. If you are able to donate, you can do so here: http://safehandsrescue.org/donate/

Thank you, on behalf of Lynne, Janine and the Safe Hands Family.

Tess

Critical Mass 3-22-09

We all know that these are somewhat desperate times. We all know folks who have been laid off or perhaps have been laid off ourselves. The economy is in the proverbial (toilet) tank. And yet I come to you desperate in these desperate times. We need to reach a critical mass.

The dictionary describes critical mass as "The smallest mass of a fissionable material that will sustain a nuclear chain reaction at a constant level" or "The amount of matter needed to generate sufficient gravitational force to halt the current expansion of the universe." Pretty impressive indeed. The specific critical mass we are looking for is the one that will stop the universe from contracting for one really small puppy named Ditto.

Ditto is just a little dude. A puppy that arrived here one week ago full of life, vim and vigor. His antics as he wrestled with his sister Izzy and brother Doc were fascinating. His jumps, twists, spins and dives in the bed were worthy of Olympic Gold. The mischievous sparkle in his eye, his endearing tilt of the head and his expression that always seemed like a smile had us all entranced. He zoomed around so fast, he never stopped moving, we thought about naming him Speed Racer or Indy 500. He was just 2 pounds 12 ounces but his persona filled the entire room.

But a few days after arrival Ditto stopped eating and was listless. He tested parvo negative and was given fluids and antibiotics and sent home He was under watchful foster care. He maintained but didn't really improve until Friday when he had a good day, played with the cat, ate on his own. Things seemed to be looking up. And then he crashed. He crashed hard and fast. Foster mom and dad found him at 6 am Saturday all but gone, cold, limp, unresponsive. Their quick actions revived our little dude and soon he was at the emergency clinic.

Critical on it's own is defined as "being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency" or "so seriously ill or injured as to be in danger of dying". There is no other way to say this. Ditto is in a state of emergency and Safe Hands is in a state of crisis. Ditto is in danger of dying. We do not have the money needed to allow Ditto to fight for his life.

Ditto is currently in the hospital. He remains a medical mystery. His bloodwork indicates infection but he does not have parvo and they do not know where. He has developed a severe case of pnemonia. He is on IV fluids, broad spectrum/multiple antibiotics and on oxygen. His foster parents and I have visited him and this is what I can tell you. Ditto does not understand what is going on. But Ditto wants to be well. He wants to come home. He wants to be held and loved. He wants to run and play. He wants to feel good again. You can see it in his face and you can tell by how he tries to snuggle up, rests his head in your hands and seeks comfort and understanding while staring in your eyes. Ditto wants to be well. He needs our help to get him there.

Please help us help Ditto fight for his life.

Right now Safe Hands is Ditto's family and Safe Hands is every one of us, every one of you. We are all he has. I know what Safe Hands folks are capable of. I know we can move mountains. I know there is room in everyone's heart for a little dude named Ditto. He is an absolutely amazing little creature absolutely unique in the universe.

One final definition of critical is "urgently needed, absolutely necessary". If Ditto is going to live donations to support his ongoing medical care are critical. They are urgently needed and absolutely necessary. The doctor told me tonight that we were looking at a minimum bill of $2000. If you can help donations can be made via paypal at our website http://safehandsrescue.org/donate/ and if anyone prefers checks can be made to the hospital directly (please email and I can provide the information).

It is late Sunday night (March 22, 2009) and I will get an update on Ditto in the morning. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.