Rescue folks are wonderful. A heartwarming story...

[Richard Crowe]

We have a new rescue dog that we almost lost.  She was very pregnant when we got her from a South Los Angeles shelter (one of the worst) who had given this very pregnant mother to be a rabies shot.

We don't know if the was the rabies shot (our vet was angry that she had been given the shot) but, the girl suffered from anemia and severe respiratory distress. We rushed her to our emergency vet at around midnight. Our vet determined that one puppy was dead in the birth canal and decided to do an emergency C-section.  Through Hurculean efforts the vet and staff saved one of the puppies and also saved the mother's life...

However the mother was too sick to nurse the puppy.

The staff tube fed the baby while Judy networked among local rescue groups to find a mother with a new litter of puppies. Within 45 minutes, there was an offer from Chihuahua Rescue for a surrogate mom to nurse the pup.  The mother had lost two of her four puppies at birth and we hoped that she would accept our puppy as one of hers.  She quickly accepted the puppy and began to lick and clean it.  The pup reacted immediately to the motherly attention.  She had been crying on the way to her surrogate mom but, immediately stopped crying when she felt the mom licking her and felt the reassuring warmth of her foster siblings...

The response of the local rescue community has been heart warming.  We have received multiple offers of surrogate mothers and many offers from rescue folks who volunteered to feed the baby 24/7 if we could not find a mother who would accept her.

We were lucky to find a mom and luckier still to find one less than 15-miles from our home...

We are also very fortunate to have a wonderful 24-hour vet....  Diane Jones, DVM, ER4PETS, World Trade Center Drive, San Diego, CA.

And thank you to that little Chihuahua who accepted the puppy as her own!

[Robin and Libby Louise]

This is one happy story!

[Richard Crowe]

Mia has found her furever home and her puppy, Summer, is now with us.  My stepson is very interested in Summer and is flying here from Ohio for her.

Summer is one of the most people oriented and mellow puppies we have ever met!

[Gail and Bailey]

Thanks for the update, Richard!  Mom and baby look wonderful, healthy and happy!  

[Richard Crowe]

FOLLOW-UP: Mia is progressing quite well.  She lost most of her hair due to her illness but it is growing back.  She still has a way to go but, is looking a lot better now...

Her puppy, who we named Summer, has been well cared for by her foster family including that wonderful little Chihuahua mom who adopted Summer as one of her own.  Summer is a darling little girl.

[Leslie and Halas]

So sweet!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Happy tears!! what a wonderful network of true humans!!!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thanks for sharing.  Just wonderful!, Richard!!!  

[Lynda Kamrath]

Thanks for sharing.  You rescue people are fantastic and I love the web you have made to help our canine friends.

[Julie and Max]

What a wonderful thing that you saved the mother and pup and everyone helped.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I agree with Dors-tissue alert!! What a wonderful tale showcasing the best of humanity and dogs.  We need more stories like this one!