Saved 12 dogs in one rescue

So I don't want to blog when I have nothing to write. But for the last couple of days I have had so much to write I have been too excited to touch a key board...

This is how I spent my Friday the 13th:

Let me try to make a long story short. My Husband and I were about to go roller/blading/skating with the dog (Me on my Skates, Dan on his blades, and Nik on her feet), then I see this golden retriever type in the middle of the side walk a block away from the house. I tell my husband who has Nik's leash to stop, a dog on the street is not always friendly and can easily feel cornered so I wanted to keep Nik far away. (She want's to play with anything that moves!)  I have some treats which I try to entice the stray with, but although she hesitates, she ends up scampering away.

Now, I have tried to catch a stray dog before, and it ending in me falling flat on my face on concrete. You cannot catch a dog if it is sprinting away, so I sadly tell Dan (my husband) "We can't catch her lets get reorganized and move on."

Then the stray in question pops her head around the corner and I realize, this dog needs help, something about her super tucked tail and her body being pancaked to the ground, touched my heart and I said "We have to save this dog."

So Dan stayed out on the block slowly roller-blading and keeping tabs on the dog, while I change out my skates (I am not a fantastic Street skater yet!), put our dog away, and get some supplies: Treats, slip lead and mental composition.

I get out the door and there is no Dan in sight so I just start sprinting in the direction I last saw him, and I find him and our lady stray in a front yard (not ours). Dan heads back to get shoes on and I spend a long time observing our new friend and throwing her treats. I realize at this point she is pregnant for sure!!! Then after many failed gentle attempts I get a leash on her, no luck with the slip lead because she cowered intensely if anything was over her head. Dan and I decide no matter what we will see this dog through her pregnancy to a good home. She seems to be extremely scared of people especially men, and had an old chain around her neck. Not a choke chain just an ace hardware chain all dingy and dark. There were no posters and no owners looking for her and there continues not to be.

We decide to take her to one of my favorite rescues to see if she had a micro-chip. She jumped in the car with us and Nik, and off we went. On the way she ate a couple hot dogs out of my hands, I was very proud of her! At the rescue of course there was no chip, but there were some amazing caring people. The rescue decided straight-up to take her in, they looked her over and decided she was gonna give birth any minute so she was definitely needed a safe place to have her pups. I offered my home, but they were happy to have her and I was happy to know she was in a safe place, so everyone was happy. I named her Ruby and said I would be by soon to visit her. They thanked me for saving her and agreed to text me when the she gave birth. It was hard to leave her there but I knew they were much better prepared for an extremely pregnant dog that has been on the street with questionable health.

So fast forward to Monday, I got the text that the puppies were coming and I headed over as soon as I could. By the time I got there around 2pm Ruby had been in labor since 11am and given birth to 6 healthy puppies. They were beautiful. I observed the next two being birthed which was amazing and then the worker that was helping out, thought Ruby might be finished and went to have a well deserved break. As he walked out my moment appeared.

I was about to suit up, with booties and gloves to help get Ruby more comfortable when I saw her lay on one of her pups. So I called for a buddy, suited up fast and got in to the room. I got the puppy out and safe, but within seconds there were two more pups on their way out. The first one (#9) came out fine, only needed a little tug to help Ruby out, but the next one (#10) was a moment I'll never forget.

 The pup was obviously struggling and not breathing right, I remembered the worker saying he had to help a couple of the dogs to breath so I knew it was time for action. I realized it was my time to shine, the pup was struggling less and going limp. I pressed gently on the pups chest and it coughed and then started breathing and moving again...I was there at the moment it gained life and almost lost it.....WOW....just wow. Puppy eleven appeared about 30 minutes later, healthy and whiny. What a big litter, I am so happy for Ruby, and so pleased Dan and I saved her from giving birth or dying pregnant on the streets. We saved 12 dogs that day. I'll attach some puppy photos for those interested:

Just when I feel lost and directionless in my whole "helping dogs in need" quest, the dogs in need find me. I am truly blessed to have been part of the birth and nothing is better than hands on experience.  Stay tuned. My dog adventures seem to be getting much more exciting!