Too many dogs in the Midlands are being abandoned to fend for themselves. This includes a rising number of “Mums-to-be” who are being dumped when they are at their most vulnerable.
Like Patsy. We didn’t know she was pregnant when she first came to us with puncture wounds to her body and neck. She started to show signs, and after a few weeks in our care she gave birth to her pups here at our rescue centre.
Patsy struggled with parenthood initially but with support from our team, which included hand-rearing the three weakest pups, she soon became a loving Mum. Her six puppies soon gained weight and are all doing well and hoping to find new homes.
Here at Birmingham Dogs Home, we have seen a dramatic increase in cases like Patsy arriving at our rescue centres over the last eighteen months. So much so, that we desperately need to create more special spaces where Mums can safely have their pups in a protective and calm environment.
With your help, we want to give every one of them the very best possible start by creating “whelping units”, away from the hustle and bustle of our main kennels and away from view.
This is why we are launching our Little Miracles Appeal to raise funds to create these whelping areas – a “maternity wing”. We want to offer a safe environment, specially designed to protect puppies during birth and early life.
Newborn pups cannot see, hear, or regulate their body temperature. They need to be kept out of the cold and away from the dangers of being squashed or smothered. They are completely reliant on their Mum for all their needs and a place to snuggle for warmth.