A black labrador, believed to be around seven to eight years old, recently gave birth to a whopping 21 puppies. However, her journey to motherhood was not an easy one. Upon arriving at the Boone Area Humane Society in Iowa on October 24, she was in septic shock and in labor. Despite the pain she endured, the community of animal lovers rallied around her, offering their support and hoping for her full recovery.
According to Vanessa Heenan, director of the Boone Area Humane Society, the dog was transported to Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine via helicopter after arriving unresponsive in the back of a pickup truck. Her abdomen was swollen, and her nipples appeared to have nursed puppies recently. After 24 hours of labor, the dog gave birth to two puppies, but unfortunately, one was stillborn and the other passed away soon after. The veterinarians determined that an immediate C-section was necessary to save the dog’s life.
While the vets worked tirelessly to treat and rescue each and every puppy, the shelter’s expenses kept mounting with each passing day. Unable to bear the financial burden, the shelter reached out to the local community for help. Thanks to their efforts, roughly $20,000 has been raised thus far. However, despite all their best efforts and a transfusion from their mother, all the puppies ultimately passed away on October 26th due to complications surrounding their birth. Even though half of them were stillborn, the remaining pups were simply too underdeveloped to survive.
According to Heenan, the dog was not a product of a puppy mill or subjected to hormone treatments. However, it is possible that she was impregnated by multiple male dogs. The shelter is aware of the owner’s identity and is currently seeking legal advice on the matter. Unfortunately, Iowa’s animal protection laws are not very strong, making this a difficult situation to resolve.
Veterinarians are currently focused on aiding the elderly dog in her recovery after an incredibly painful delivery. The canine has already displayed signs of improvement, although she still appears to be weak. ISU vets intend to slowly reduce her pain medication and water intake as part of her recuperation process, as stated on Facebook. Once she has fully recovered, the dog will be placed with a foster family. If you’re interested in supporting the mama dog’s recovery, you can contribute through the Boone Area Humane Society’s Facebook page or by contacting the ISU College of Vet Med at 515-294-4900.
Seeing an animal in such anguish is truly heartbreaking. It’s unimaginable how someone could let this poor creature endure such pain. Let’s come together and pray for her swift recovery, while also hoping that those responsible for this mistreatment will be brought to justice.