The Box Babies

Tuesday Jan 19 - I came home late in the dark and the driving rain and found a dead male Malamute (or large Siberian) in the highway in front of my house.  I couldn't tell at first who it was.  But quickly figured out it wasn't one of mine.  He was also covered in mud, caked in mud.  I hoped he hadn't been dumped behind my fences, because in the dark and the rain, the person dumping him wouldn't have seen a big tree down over my fence..... but he would have.  No collar, no microchip.  

When I got to the driveway gate, I found the box of puppies.  Inside the fence.  The cardboard was rain rotted and fell apart in my hands.  The babies were caked in mud like the dog I suspected was daddy.  I got them in the house and got the caked clay off them under tepid water, got them on a heating pad, (and they look like purebred Malamutes or Siberians to me so far)  and went back out and looked for mom.   But Malamute moms don't leave their young, especially this young.  One of the six was already still, although I washed him anyway.  All of them had fresh umbilical cords.  Mom was somewhere, I'm guess she was dead.

I suspect, and have no way of verifying, that someone had a pair of Mals (or large Siberians), and didn't know she was pregnant.  They came home from work and found her in the yard -- dad and pups were caked in red clay which is everywhere in East Tennessee.  I'm guessing mom died during whelp or soon thereafter.  The owners brought them to Malamute rescue, dumped the cardboard box over the fence and probably dad, too.  I'm guessing, but no one but the owners know.

Tuesday Jan 26 - A week later, 2 girls and 3 boys are getting stronger.  I'm bottle-feeding them every 4 hours with goats milk and esbilac.  I'm pottying them before and after feedings with a wet washcloth.  And they are hanging out in the living room on the heating pad or an electric blanket.  They are not yet thriving, but they are gaining at least an ounce or more every day.  They are all grays, some darker than others, some with masks and some open-faced.  Here are the first pictures -- I didn't take pictures before, because I didn't think any of them would make it...

These puppies will have applications and contracts with spay/neuter and obedience class requirements once they get home.  They will be vetted and have first shots from a vet, regular deworming, and microchips.  Adoption fee is $300

Tuesday Feb 9 - Wow, 3 weeks later.  They are walking, eyes open, heard some singing this weekend and they sound like a teeny mice chorus.  And finally finally they are eating regular food.  Wallowing more than eating.  Which means baths every other day.  Here are pics post-bath and almost dry...

The girls 3w

 
The Boys 3w

Misc

Calendar 

1/19 - born, brought to TNAMR

3/9 - Vetting & go home - these puppies can go home early because they won't have had mom to socialize them -- they will need their humans to do that.

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Rescue is the duty of all breeders.
Rescue does not mean taking your own dogs back, but sheltering someone else's dog.
sleddog@pobox.com * 423-365-6039 * Spring City, TN

Web Last Updated 02/08/2010