It can be terrifying to become a parent for the first time, especially when things don’t go as planned.
For Mia, a pregnant 2-year-old Chihuahua cross, this was the reality she was facing.
Mia was in desperate condition and needed immediate medical attention. She was in labour and was having difficulty with the birth.
Her owners made the difficult decision to surrender her to the Guelph Humane Society (GHS) so she could receive the emergency C-section she and her puppies needed to survive.
“Funds to support emergency medical cases, like Mia’s, are entirely reliant upon our community’s support,” says Lisa Veit, GHS Executive Director. “Each year GHS is able to provide more than $350,000 in veterinary care to Guelph/Wellington’s most vulnerable animals because of donations made to our organization.”
After her surgery, Mia needed a foster home to provide continuous care for her and her puppies.
Mia’s journey, along with puppies Mavis and Mick, brought her to Jodi, a long-time foster, who opened her home and heart to this new family.
At first, Mia rejected her puppies, so Jodi provided around-the-clock care for them.
“I wasn’t sleeping; I was trying to keep babies alive,” says Jodi. “It was scary but rewarding at the same time.”
Eventually, Mia warmed up to her puppies, and Jodi fostered Mia and the pups for four months. Her care brought them all one step closer to finding their Happy Tails.
Jodi, who already had two dogs of her own, didn’t plan to adopt Mia, Mavis, or Mick, but her 7-year-old Chihuahua Axel had other plans. Once old enough to be separated from their mom, and Mia was adopted, Axel started caring for Mavis by bathing and playing with her. He paid no attention to the other pup, Mick.
“Axel basically adopted her, and I’ve never seen him behave that way,” says Jodi. “When I made the decision to adopt Mavis (now known as Miller) I really did it for him.”
Mick was adopted by a fellow foster, and the two pups now go on regular playdates. Momma Mia is also doing well on her happy tail. A reunion was planned for this December.
“Donations to GHS allow us to provide hope, care, and compassion for animals in our care and for the people that love them—the cornerstone of our organization,” says Veit. “It is important to our team that we share the stories of animals like Mia, Mavis, and Mick to demonstrate the meaningful impact a gift to GHS can make.
Please consider making a gift to support lifesaving care this holiday season.