PUPPIES IN A SHED

I know it’s a bit off subject, but I am so angry with some friends of mine that I have to get this off my chest!! They are lovely people and have one pet bitch cross breed of 7 years old, always well cared for and much loved. I hadn’t seen them for a couple of months and they came round on New Year’s Eve for a visit. Apparently she has five eight-week old puppies as someone told them that ALL bitches should have a litter as they ALWAYS live longer!!

I may be being very pompous and arrogant, but why on earth didn't they ask me as well? I just can’t understand it. They have been close friends for many years and I am so disappointed they didn't come to me for advice. I could at least have lent them heat lamp/vet bed/books etc if they were determined to go ahead.

The bitch was mated with a cross whippet belonging to a son. The puppies were born completely on their own in a damp unheated outhouse in a corner with newspapers for a bed. After all they informed me, it’s a natural process. They then went ON HOLIDAY for 2 weeks when the pups were 3 weeks old, (when the weather was freezing) and left a neighbour, who they hardly know, to feed them twice a day.

These puppies are now 8 weeks old and still not wormed, "Oh we've done that with garlic" they inform me, "and we won’t let them go to new homes until they are 12 weeks old because that’s the right age. You sell your puppies far too young at 8 weeks." I asked how they were going to find them homes and they said (they are committed religious followers) "God will sort it out for us and make sure they find good homes, and if he doesn't we can put them in the dogs’ home, they'll find good homes for them".

They are giving them away as they don’t agree with "making money out of God's creatures". They are completely unsocialised, have barely been out of their shed. My husband went to visit at the weekend since I could not bear to and said that they actually looked quite well, if a bit skinny. He also said they were "a bit wild though and the bitch is looking very thin."

I am completely speechless about this and cannot believe that intelligent, kind people like them could be so stupid and unthinking. They don’t even want to keep one! I feel so sorry for these poor babies, what chance do they have of getting good homes.

They have made it quite clear that they don’t want any help with homing them or anything else for that matter. I offered them a bottle of wormer and a sack of decent food for nothing, explaining very briefly about puppy/bitch nutrition, but they declined, adding that the bitch, although "getting a bit thin," still had gallons of milk. So that’s alright then.

I don’t know how I can continue this friendship now; they are our longest standing "non-doggy" friends. Very sad.

NOTE: Because of the personal nature, the author has asked to be anonymous and his/her right to privacy is respected. My thanks for sharing these very intimate thoughts.

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Copyright 2001 Sierra Milton. sierra.milton@ntlworld.com All rights reserved. However, you are encouraged to copy and distribute this article for non-commercial use with the following restrictions: You may not modify the article in any way. You must include the entire article including the copyright notice. You may not charge any fee for use, copying, nor distribution of the product with the following exceptions: Non-profit organizations may charge a nominal fee (not to exceed $5.00) until and unless notified by the author this is not the case.

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