Popsicle Pups
By Tanya M. Jackson
We were frantic, so traumatized that we did not grab a camera for even one photo. The little popsicle puppies had all of our attention. A dozen staff members and volunteers desperately worked on five wee puppies, soaking wet and ice cold, while their tiny beagle mama, gaunt and also shaking with cold, wove around our feet and whined with worry for her babies.
This incredible little dog, scarcely grown herself, went to a neighbor's home early on the cold wet morning of February 26th after a long stormy night trying to keep her puppies dry and warm in a leaky old dog house that was letting in winter’s wind and rain. She howled and scratched at the door until her neighbor answered. He had fed her before, noticing that she was caring for puppies and did not seem to have enough to eat. He got her some food, but still she whined and cried for his attention.
Finally" he said, "I told her, 'Let's go see your babies!'" and they headed back down the road. No one was home, but there in the doghouse he found the pile of cold wet puppies, only about three weeks old. Scooping up as many as he could carry and carrying the mama dog as well, he dashed for his car and headed for the Nassau Humane Society. He was pretty sure that it was already too late for the ones that he had left behind.
Then he arrived at the shelter, we sprang into action. Pam was drying big, fluffy Max with a hairdryer after his much-needed bath. We interrupted her, bundled Max into a blanket and started drying the little puppies. They were limp and icy, but we heard whimpers. We called for help. Bonnie, Dee, Karen, Mandy and Belinda came in. Other workers arrived, even the guys from the big dog kennels; they stuffed puppies into their shirts and cuddled them in their armpits, trying desperately to warm them. Towels were brought, warm from the clothes dryer. Someone made a mad dash to Wal*Mart nearby for another hair dryer and a few heating pads. Signs of life and little whimpers made us even more determined. When these little pups peed on us, even their pee was ice cold!
All the while, the little mama dog watched and worried. She knew she had gotten help, but she wanted to know for sure that her babies were okay. Someone dried her off and got her some food. A bed was made for her, padded with warm blankets and mattressed with a heating pad. By this time one puppy was pretty warm and showed signs of needing his mother. We settled the two of them in the new bed. Someone thought if we filled latex gloves with warm water that would help, so we snugged the puppy closer to mama and put a warm glove at his back.
Meanwhile an Animal Control Officer went with the rescuing neighbor to retrieve the remaining puppies and serve notice to the dog owner that he would be accused of neglect. Still no one was home, so notice was left at the door and the neighbor and officer returned with the puppies. Miraculously, one was showing signs of life! It took mouth to puppy resuscitation and lots more blow-drying but another sweet little life was saved. More than two hours had passed, but six beautiful little puppies were snuggled with their mama. Two had drowned in the flooded doghouse.
We all had to get back to our regular duties. There were more animals to be processed for intake, animals to be fed and cleaned, and still adoptions going on and the washing machines and dryers chugging as they do all day. We do not know what the outcome of all this will be. We only know that when a dog or a puppy or a cat or a kitten or any other animal for that matter, comes into this shelter, it deserves the best that we can offer. It deserves a second chance at life, a second chance for love and comfort and happiness. So we give it our all every time.
The Popsicle Puppies are temporarily named for popsicles for obvious reasons. We say a big prayer of thanks that they’ve made it to this point, and another little prayer each day that we'll do the right thing for all the animals. This is not an easy job, but it certainly has its rewards. We just all wish that everyone who has animals cared about them as much as we do. That is what working at the Nassau Humane Society is all about - caring for animals in a humane and loving way, and trying to teach others to care for their own pets in the very same way…
