http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/...puppies01.html

Woman performs C-section on dead dog, saves puppies

December 1, 2004

CEDAR CITY, Utah -- A quick-thinking EMT performed a Caesarean section on her dead Chihuahua to save the lives of three puppies. Carolyn Shaw was at work two weeks ago when she received a call from her husband, saying their long-haired Chihuahua, Annie, was in labor and whimpering under the bed, and he couldn't coax her out.

Not wanting the dog to deliver under the bed, she asked her ambulance partner Kori Baker, who also is her daughter-in-law, and an intern riding along if they could stop by the house and check on the dog.

When they arrived, Barker found Annie warm but limp. "After I did a quick check I realized she was dead,'' Barker said.

After the puppies were delivered, here was a brief celebration until the fact that the puppies were motherless dawned on them.

"The whole experience was so cool, but then we knew we needed to rush them to the vet because they didn't have a mom anymore and we didn't know what to do next,'' Barker said.

The pups are now at home, where family and friends are caring for them. All three pups already have homes when they are old enough to leave. AP