http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/community/11065096.html
Thursday, 11/8/2007 8:09 am
Maya needed mothering lessons and now her babies need homes
Maya needed mothering lessons and now her babies need homes
By Diane Strandberg - The Tri-City News - November 07, 2007
Marianne Illing, Haydi Eisner, Yvonne Campagne, Vanessa Hill, Sarah Rice and Sarah Hilton-Foster hold up 13 puppies ready for adoption at the Coquitlam Animal Shelter. Below, the tired mom.
by COLLEEN FLANAGAN/the tri-city newS
Thirteen black and brown puppies squirmed, yipped and waddled around outside the Coquitlam Animal Shelter. Fat as little piglets, the pups were ready for their close-up.
They didn't know it but they were about to have their picture taken to celebrate their coming of age. In three weeks, the shelter pups will move in with their new, adoptive families.
But for now, food was on their minds.
"Bring Maya, bring the mom out," suggested one of the animal care attendants, who organized the "puppy socialization" event for the press last Wednesday.
On cue, Maya was brought out, showing signs of motherhood and the strains of feeding such a large brood. A month ago, the tawny, medium-sized dog with faint tiger-like stripes was picked up near Ikea in Coquitlam. The stray was heavily pregnant and had to have an emergency C-section because one of the pups was stuck in her birth canal. For a while, it was touch and go but the pups were all saved.
Then there was another crisis.
"The mom didn't recognize her own pups and had to be shown how to nurse her babies," said shelter manager Andrea McDonald.
To keep the newborns alive, staff took them home and fed them by bottle every two hours. There was a risk, though, that Maya would never get the hang of nursing. Shelter attendant Sarah Rice was determined and spent several hours teaching the young dog about the facts of life. Her pupil finally took the hint.
Today, Maya is thin and still producing milk even though her puppies get other food to supplement their diet.
She was brought out to the blue quilt where her puppies were playing and lay down with her head in Rice's lap to await the onslaught.
The puppies didn't need an invitation. Like bees drawn to a flower, they climbed over each other to get to one of her eight swollen teats. They then hung on for dear life while their brothers and sisters pushed and shoved to get their share. When Maya stood up to re-position herself, a few still dangled.
Like proud grandparents, the shelter attendants and bylaw officers watched with silly grins on their faces.
A year from now, the pups will be invited back to the shelter for a reunion. Why?
"Because we love them and we want to see them again," said supervisor Yvonne Campagne.
WANT TO ADOPT?
. Applications to adopt one of the puppies - there are seven females and six males - will be accepted until Nov. 20. They will be ready for adoption Nov. 23. Puppy visiting times are at 1 p.m. Monday through Friday at the shelter at 500 Mariner Way. Information about adoption is available at www.coquitlam.ca.