a smörgåsbord of pics + new video coming

Momma Sweet Pea just had her latest vet visit - her platelet count is 84 when it should be 200 - 500 so with the anemia she's having difficulty getting oxygen to flow, especially at rest so that explains why she has some increased respiratory difficulties in the middle of some nights as her body slows down to its slowest point. Things should improve little by little as her meds and supplements take effect. We also received a liver shake recipe from Marie that we're going to try. The vet said that it's just going to take time and that recovery from this is a long process .  In the meantime, when she's having difficulty, we wake her up and get her to go for short walks to help increase her circulation and that seems to help quite a bit.

The pups are all growing so fast and healthy thanks to Boni and Marie and they've been sending great pictures and we're tardy in the postings. Hope you enjoy the catching up below!

More coming soon...

Breakfast at Marie's

Starring: Kink, Ruby, Siouxsie Sioux, Black Eye Pea and Miss Bruiser
(Sending get well wishes to Marie.)

We're behind in our pic postings - more to come soon!

Newbie advice for those considering animal fostering

We haven't had a chance to write much about another side of this journey which we feel is very important to share with those who may be considering animal fostering.  We have absolutely no regrets that we've spent a large part of our rent money on this rescue and are not sure what we're going to do come Feb. 1st (if you'd like to help, we are able to accept contributions via paypal sent directly to the email: kurtschlough@aol.com or to Kurt Schlough, PO Box 25661, Albuquerque, NM 87125) nor do we have any regrets that we took the leap to help save these 11 (momma Sweet Pea + her 10 pups).  What we do regret is listening to and relying upon the good intentions and well meaning words of others and not preparing ourselves for the worse. Below are 2 scenarios - one we'll likely never enter into again and another which we likely will.

22 days into this journey - lessons learned so far: Don't place stock in well meaning words, no matter how much you like the person/people and no matter how good the intentions.  Align yourself with a reputable animal fostering program.

Foster Scenario 1 - our personal scenario in a nutshell:  We responded to a craigslist '911-help' posting asking for help to get Sweet Pea and her 10 pups out of a high-kill shelter and safe from euthanasia. We were first told we'd be fostering for a rescue group and that we'd need to sign a contract with them.  We asked if the rescue group would be taking care of any upcoming vet bills for these 11 and when the mom + pups were dropped off the next day (Jan 5th) we were told that we would not be fostering for the rescue group that we'd be fostering directly with the shelter but not to worry about vet bills and other expenses (although the shelter would not be providing any assistance).  We were surprised that the rescue group had backed out without explanation after we asked about vet bills but thought that maybe that's just how this foster thing worked.  We also expressed our concern over future heating bills since we would have to keep our converted industrial space (16 ft ceilings, etc.) at such a high temp. for the sake of the pups and was again told not to worry about it - help would be available.  About 80% of that help never arrived and we have no indication that it ever will.  Luckily, we have had some help from old friends and new friends along the way but we have a longer journey ahead of us.

We understand that the goal of the people we initially were working with was to prevent this mom and pup from being euthanized and that goal was achieved but it was not done in an honest manner and if we had not been the type of people we are, things may have, unfortunately been different. Luckily, we stay committed even though we lose sleep over how we were going to make it through. 

On Jan 17th, momma Sweet Pea was diagnosed with Ehrlichiosis and the vet ordered her to begin doxycycline and supplements and also ordered the pups removed and to be bottle fed.  Of course we panicked because Sweet Pea was much worse off than we thought she was and we were trying to wrap our heads around bottle feeding puppies (much less bottle feeding 10 puppies).

This is where Foster Scenario 2 begins - the vet and the shelter rep recommended we contact Boni Galarneau, the foster coordinator at Animal Humane New Mexico to get help with the pups.  Her and Marie Privett (an AHNM foster rep) basically came to our rescue and took 6 of the pups to bottle feed leaving us with 4 to bottle feed.  All was going ok for the 1st 24 hours until momma Sweet Pea began grieving and howling like we've never heard a dog howl before - the pups (now in another room) heard her and responded - a heart wrenching volley of howls ensued and the pups and momma Sweet Pea stopped eating. Boni, Marie and we decided that the 4 pups had to be removed and they were placed with another AHNM foster. After an unfortunate accident with Jami's adult dog rsulting in an emergency room visit, she was no longer able to help so the 4 pups had to be moved once again.  These pups have been through so much but thanks to Boni and Marie and a fully supported foster program at AHNM, these pups are now getting everything they need - vet care, bottle feeding, general care and socialization, etc.  AHNM has an amazing foster program and we would highly recommend becoming involved in their program.  You'll be helping an animal in need and you'll get the support and guidance you need along the way.  This is especially valuable to someone new to animal fostering. 

Momma Sweet Pea is still our total responsibility but we're hopeful to get future foster support for her through the AHNM foster program. We have a vet follow up visit today for her due to recent increase in the rate and sound of her breathing.  We'll post more news after we return from the vet along with new puppy pictures from Marie and Boni.  We're counting down the days until pups Kink, Pinky, Bruiser and Kaiser return here for the end of their foster care.

~ The Animal Foster Newbies

video debut...

Just in...Kaiser is first pup to take gruel!

woo-hoo!!

Good Progress + New Pics

Yesterday, Kurt headed over to Marie's to help with Bruiser, Kink, Ruby Sue, Siouxsie Sioux and Black Eye Pea.  Marie and Boni have been working miracles with these little pups. Below are a few pics taken at Marie's yesterday. Increasingly chunky pups! coming along as you can see from the puppy pics below.  All 10 are still fighting the bottle somewhat, some more than others and only 2 have been needing fluids occasionally.  All of the rest with both Boni and Marie are taking 3 - 6 oz. at each feeding of the formula.  (This formula was given to us by Boni and it's guaranteed to help deliver chunky, healthy pups if you have to bottle feed. Email us and we'll send over the recipe.)

We're starting to get emails from potential interested adopters asking us what mix these pups are.  The pups are still developing but from what we can tell so far, Momma Sweet Pea was what we've learned is called 'popular' and we do think these pups have at least a couple of different fathers.  We think Momma Sweet Pea is a Pitt Bull/Pointer mix and we think the fathers of these pups could range anywhere from another Pitt Bull mix to unknown to possibly Saint Bernard mix in Bruiser's case.

Momma Sweet Pea continues to take her meds and supplements successfully and ate well yesterday even though we still have to get creative and add something extra yummy to her puppy chow (she is still underweight and needs the extra protein, etc.) and is going on more short walks.

With us personally being $200/300 in debt so far and an expected huge heating bill coming in the mail soon along with all the other misc. expenses (including upcoming vet bills) that will pile up between us, Boni and Marie before all the pups have found their forever homes, we're thinking of maybe doing a fundraiser here in ABQ and possibly online since many supporters of Momma Sweet Pea and her pups and our friends are spread out across the US and beyond.  We'll post more details in the near future.  Thank you so much to everyone who has mailed us gift cards to various stores and sent paypal contributions.  We are still graciously accepting any gift cards at: Kurt Schlough, PO Box 25661, Albuquerque, NM, 87102 and paypal contributions can be sent directly to the email: kurtschlough@aol.com

With much gratitude,

~ The Animal Foster Newbies

momma + pups inching forward

We've received the photos below from Boni Galarneau from Animal Humane New Mexico who is now ever more generously helping us with the care of Crane, Winey, Spot, Kaiser and Pinky.  Marie and Ted Privett and her niece Hayley have likewise selflessly moved from caring for Ruby Sue, Siouxsie Sioux, and Black Eye Pea to adding Kink and Bruiser after an accident involving one of Jami's adult dogs occurred yesterday, forcing her to transfer the pups to Boni and Marie.  Our thoughts are with Jami and her dog for a quick recovery.

Right before Boni and Marie picked up the pups, we were able to snap the pics below.  Can't tell you how much we miss these little pups - can't wait for the eventual return of Pinky, Kink, Bruiser and Kink after they're eating on their own.  Also can't wait to help begin the search for their many forever homes.  If you want to adopt one of these babies, you're going to have to pass some big mustard :) but only because they deserve nothing less after this journey.

From today's reports on the pups, one had to have fluids but is since bottle feeding well and all seem to be inching forward.  Momma Sweet Pea had a difficult day yesterday, but is eating well today. Forward progress is all we're praying for right now, no matter how small.  We couldn't get through this without Boni and Marie's help right now.  We are forever indebted to them for their help, guidance and generosity.  Visit Animal Humane's website when you can to learn more about what they do.

~ The Animal Foster Newbies

total upheaval but final settling in the last 72 hours - new pics at end of long post...

With the vet's orders to begin doxy antibiotic treatment for momma Sweet Pea and to simultaneously remove the pups to protect them from ingesting the meds through her milk and begin bottle feeding, on Jan. 19th we were fortunate to get help for the bottle feeding of 6 of the 10 pups: Brownie (now named Ruby Sue), Siouxie Sioux, Black Eye Pea, Crane, Spot and Whiney (new name for this sweet guy is coming soon).  Since we've taken to calling all the people who have come forward to help us 'angels', these 6 pups are now in the experienced and capable hands of Boni and Marie who have years of puppy bottle feeding experience and work with Animal Humane New Mexico. (This org. does great work in New Mexico - more about them in a future post.) Patty Mugan, the dedicated rescuer and transporter we've been working with since day 1, connected all of us.

In our inexperience, we didn't realize that we were going to need to remove the pups from momma Sweet Pea's sight (rather than just remove them from accessing her milk) so this was going to be her last time with them.   All six pups were now safely with Boni and Marie and although their take to the bottle wasn't easy, they're all doing better with the bottle each day since then. At almost 3 weeks, we all found out that they were less willing to take a bottle than newborn to 1 week old pups.

Now we had the remaining 4 pups (our 2 runt pups, Kink and Pinky, which after 2 weeks of around the clock teet time management are smaller in size but have doubled in weight; along with Bruiser our super chunky female who has become quite the snuggler; and Kaiser, our super mini version of a Holstein cow.  The next morning we gave momma Sweet Pea her meds hidden in some yummy cream cheese and one of us took her for a walk while the other moved the pups to the playpen in the next room.  When momma Sweet Pea returned she was stressed but we seemed to be able to keep her calm by showering her with affection. The pups had just nursed so we were preparing for a loud alarm when they were ready for their first bottle feeding.  It was a difficult next 24 hours as some seemed to mind the bottle more than others and some needed syringe type feeding through the side of their mouths.  They really liked the formula recipe we were given as long as the temp was just right - Goldilocks all the way. Marie came by to help us get a better handle on the bottle feeding and we changed out bottles, nipples, etc to find the most successful combos for them.  By the next morning we we making progress and little Kink was the first to take a whole 2 oz. without much fuss.

All seemed to be progressing when all of a sudden momma Sweet Pea began to hear more than the occasional puppy cry and began howling like we've never heard before.  We don't have a functioning layout here that gives us the option of moving the pups out of earshot. This was never an original concern since all 11 were going to spend the next 6 - 8 weeks together in the place we had made here for them.  Within the next couple of hours, the howls escalated to the puppies responding to her and vice versa.  It was heart wrenching and way too stressful for the pups and momma Sweet Pea.  She wouldn't eat and the pups wouldn't take the bottle. If we were going to be successful in saving all of their lives, we needed to further separate them.  Boni made arrangements for a temp. foster for us for the next 2 weeks for all four pups with another experienced angel named Jami.  If all goes well with momma Sweet Pea's treatment progress and post weaning, all 4 will be back here after they are able to eat on their own.  It sounds easier than it really is and its going to take some careful planning. The other 6 pups will remain with Boni and Marie through the completion of their weaning.

All will be sending us pics so we can post updates on everyone's progress here.  We said it was going to take a village but little did we know how literally. 

~ The Animal Foster Newbies

just got back from the vet

Momma has been diagnosed with Ehrlichiosis.  Her progress is fair to good and she's now going to undergo a 30 days of treatment (antibiotics, vitamins and iron supplements).  Puppies cannot be exposed to her milk after treatment begins in the morning so we are in the process of finding help because at only 2 weeks, all 10 pups will need bottle feeding. We are determined to make sure all 11 come through beautifully. Will post updates here on blog.

pups eyes open + some attempting to run before they walk

The pups are now just over 2 weeks old and the last several days have been extra busy.  The little runt pup, Kink, is coming along well thanks to a large amount of carefully managed nursing time, almost around the clock. The momma is benefiting well from her high calorie and high protein supplement along with an almost complete transfer of her food to a larger content of protein, fat and calories that she needs to maintain feeding such a large family of pups that seem to be growing in leaps.  We had a little scare with some type of cold/infection developing in some of the pups that may have come from the shelter according to a vet we consulted at Pet MD.  Good news is that momma and pups have a visit with a vet tomorrow so all can be evaluated and taken care of before it gets any worse.  It hasn't seemed to have affected the pups appetites or their hydration so we're very happy about that.

Momma has really surprised us in the last few days.  She's really finally beginning to feel the love, safety and security here.  We now get robust tail wags and lots of full body leans from her when she's ready for some attention.  She turns her head to us when she hears a noise she's unfamiliar with and as soon as we tell her it's ok, she relaxes and turns back to one of her toys or to her motherly duties.  We are now sharing in a much larger cleaning duty along with the momma who has been doing a great job but imagine if you had 10 babies relieving themselves everywhere but wearing no diapers.  Thank goodness for puppy pads and our borrowed puppy play pen!  We're taking it all in stride.

The pups have all opened their eyes and some are really determined to run before they can walk. It's too cute to watch.  A few are also trying to push themselves up into vertical positions so we'll be needing to get our expanded play pen with protective sides ready sooner than later.  We're still unable to determine what mix these pups are.  A few of them have longer hair than the momma and others have very short hair.  We're posting some new pics below.  Thank you again to family and friends and even strangers for the donations and pet supply gift cards - they are a big help. We'll continue to need as much help as we can get.  If you or someone you know would like to help out in the care of Momma and her pups with either a gift card to Petsmart, Petco or Walmart or a donation, please send to: Kurt Schlough, PO Box 25661, Albuquerque, NM 87125.  We were able to accept your help in the form of an online contribution but our paypal link is being buggy so we're trying to get it fixed as soon as possible. If you have a paypal account, you can issue a payment directly to the email: kurtschlough@aol.com and we'll receive it just as easily. (These are not tax-deductible.) Any gift cards or monetary gifts that we receive and do not need to use by the end of our fostering time will be given to another foster family or animal rescue group.  Thank you for helping us to help Momma and her pups.

- The Animal Foster Newbies