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I hope to GOD those puppies aren't viable, and that she's not very far along. :(
I know there are millions of animals in the shelters, but killing nearly born puppies just isn't right. Now, if she's not very far along, it may be for the best.
I'm just sad about the whole thing. :(
First of all, I know your control in this situation is pretty much nil, and that it is just heartbreaking for you, I truly sympathize with how you must be feeling about all this.
My own feelings on it are similar to Micki's. I do know there are thousands of homeless and unwanted pups, but I just can't be comfortable with the idea of killing them, especially if they are close to being born. Looking at how big her belly is, it really looks like she is far along, but I don't have any real experience in observing pregnant dogs. Even if the pups ended up in a shelter and possibly euthanized, I'd still prefer they at least had a chance to become someone's special baby.. If she isn't far along, I still don't really like the idea, but I could probably tolerate the thought better.
Aly I know this has to be an awful tormenting situation to have to watch, but whatever happens you are doing everything you can for her to give her a chance, and a pup couldn't ask for a better guardian angel on earth to look over her. {{hugs}}
I just wanted to let you all that even though I really don't have say, I'm still doing everything I can to figure out what is best for Cindy. If it were my call, I would let her have them. I do need to think about the other homeless animals and her health as well. I'm going to see my own vet tomorrow behind the shelter's back for a second opinion.
By the way, it was a qualified vet who made the decision that it was safe to spay her. She has her own practice and donates some time to the shelter. I am still going to my own vet though.
I just don't want anyone to think I'm taking this lightly, because I'm not. There is a pit in my stomach and I've been a cry baby all day. I just want to do what is right and I'm really really upset about it.
Geez Aly, does your emotional roller coaster ever stop??:eek:
I'm so sorry that you are having to deal with this. I pray the best thing for Cindy is what happens and that you can find peace with it.
((((HUGS))))
Aly~
First of all, I am so sorry to read about this. How awful, being excited and nervous at the same time about new pups and now there won't be any. I do agree with you though when you were thinking of all the homeless dogs already out there. But I have a question. Couldn't she still have them? Her due date is next week and her surgery is Friday, but isn't it still possible for her to have them tonight or tomorrow? Just wondering, I don't know ANYTHING about pregnancy among dogs, so sorry if the answer is obvious. Thinking of you and Cindy............Prayers for you both...
~Jamie
If she goes into labor tonight or tomorrow, then we will DEFINATELY keep the puppies, no question about that. Once they're here, I will NOT take them to be euthanized or anything. I think the only way they will spay her is if the puppies aren't too far developed. Don't ask me how they're not totally developed if she was supposed to be due next week :confused: I don't know very much about it either.
They were telling me that labor could be pretty hard on her because she's so small and frail. Very petite girl. She'd be really skinny if she wasn't pregnant. I just really fell in love with her so quickly and I want to do what is least risky for her. I also want to look out for the puppies though. :( :( :( This is so hard. I wouldn't wish this situation on anyone.
Annie is really small and petite as well, and she had 6 puppies just fine... A couple of them were breech, but I only had to help her a little... She had 6 healthy beautiful puppies.
The only thing I would worry about is if a huge dog got her pregnant, then she might not be able to have them naturally..
The vet can do an x-ray to determine the size of the puppies heads, in relation to the size of her pelvis and see if she would be able to have them.
We had that done with the dog I fostered, because even though the woman she came from said she saw her breeding with a small male boston terrier, we weren't sure that was true and wanted to make sure that they were indeed small enough for her to have them. The shelter I fostered her for wanted to abort the puppies and she to was a week away from giving birth. So I took her in myself and paid to have her x-rayed to see if everything would go alright.
If it were me, that's what I would do... Because I'm thinking that if the puppies are only a week away from being born that they are almost fully formed puppies and they are indeed viable.. You can bring a pregnant dog in for an ultrasound and an x-ray as early as 25-26 days and they can see the heartbeats and can already see the skulls and spines of the puppies to count them.
Sorry this is so long... But I just don't think its right to spay her when shes this far along... Even though there are a lot of homeless dogs.
I am going to my vet tomorrow. I don't necessarily agree with her being spayed either, but its not my decision and I have no influence. If my vet says that she shouldn't be spayed, I will go up and try to argue with them at the shelter. If my vet says its okay, then I have really no ground to stand on. As I said before, if I were personally responsible for this dog, she would have her puppies.
:(
Any updates???
Oh Aly what sad news :(. I will keep you and the little one in my thoughts and prayers what ever the outcome.
{{Hugs}}
Oh Lord... What a mess to be in Aly,,, You have got to be beside yourself,,, *I* am and i am not even there!!!!!!!
All I want is whats best for Mommy and whats best in the long run for her pups....
will be thinking of you...
She was spayed yesterday :( I've had an upside down stomach since Wednesday and especially yesterday I felt like I was going to throw up all day long. I've got a surge of emotions. Most of all I feel grief and depression. I am also really angry at being put in this position. Its caused a pretty big controversy at the shelter. I did take Cindy to my vet for a second opinion. They talked to me for a long time about it all. And it turned out that she had pretty large puppies and they were saying she would most likely need a C-section if she had them. I feel like throwing up again just talking about this :( I didn't want to make you guys sad or upset so that is why I didn't give the update earlier.
Cindy is doing very well though. I picked her up yesterday evening after surgery, wrapped her in a blanket and held her all night. She's quite perky for just getting out of surgery. She doesn't seem depressed or anything. I thought maybe her hormones might be out of whack, but I'm not noticing any strange behavior. She just loves to cuddle with me ALL the time. She is leaking a ton of discharge or something though. I imagine it might be normal for the procedure she had done, but I'm taking her to the vet later today anyway.
I have some new pictures of her, but they were from before surgery :( I think I'll take some new ones today so you guys can see what a doll she is. I just love her so much. I don't think I'll be able to take her back to the shelter when she is ready for adoption :o :(
I'm so sorry about the situation that you were put in! I'm glad that Cindy is ok and her surgery went ok.
Oh, Aly, you know our prayers are with you and Cindy, too. If the puppies were going to be too big to be born naturally, I am glad you had the check done, and the courage to do what's right for Cindy.
Cindy is still a baby herself, and is very lucky to have landed a fostermom who cares so much. Thanks for alll you do Aly, and give Cindy a gentle snuggle for me.
Aly, i feel so bad. this is such a terrible situation and shouldn't have been put on yur shulders.:( i'm glad she's doing well.