by Joyce Brandon

Joyce is a part of Animal Compassion Team, an animal rescue in Squaw Valley.

When you are involved in animal rescue, very often if feels as if you are fighting a losing battle. Too many animal owners are oblivious to the fact that their actions or inactions, as it may be, have long reaching and long lasting effects. The story of our little mountain puppies demonstrates this so clearly.

Mountain puppies

Several months ago we were contacted by a gentleman asking for help with some growing puppies he had. The pups were living wild and free and having a great time, but their owner was feeling the pain of feeding and caring for so many dogs. He loved them and didn’t want to take them to the local kill shelter so he contacted Animal Compassion Team. We accepted the puppies, six of them, found them foster homes initially, then adoptive homes eventually. Story closed and happy endings except for the one that got away.

One of the litter mates had been given to a neighbor. We always hope that people will follow through on their good intentions to spay or neuter, but funny how life gets in the way and that just never seems to happen. Fast forward several months.

Animal Compassion Team received a call from a gentleman needing help with eight puppies. We don’t want the puppies to end up in the shelter so agreed to help. While making arrangements for their care we realize that this is a sibling to original mountain litter. The one that got away! She became pregnant with her first heat cycle and at about eight months of age delivered eleven puppies. Now we have eight more puppies to find homes for! But there were eleven you say: you can bet this time we will make every attempt to track down the other three. We will also be certain to line up a spay surgery for the one that got away (mama.)

Do the math. If we get a call in six months that the three that got away have had litters now we could potentially have another 25-30 puppies, and on and on it goes.

The solution is so simple and places like HOPE Animal Foundation have made spaying and neutering affordable. There are low and no cost programs available everywhere you look. No more excuses: make that four legged friend of yours an appointment today and if you have a litter at home, please do not give them away or sell them unaltered; remember, every litter hurts.

Added note: All but one of the pups has found a home!

Learn more about ACT in their article here at KRL & watch for a new adoptable pet from ACT on our home page every week.

Joyce Brandon is co-founder of Animal Compassion Team, has lived in Squaw Valley for 21 years and has always had lots of four legged friends sharing her mountain home along with her husband Jim, and five children. Joyce works part time for Mountain Valley Community Church and splits the rest of her time between family and animal rescue work. Joyce believes animal rescue is a mission field God has called her to and has given her a passion for.