Honey’s 9 puppies!

We are happy to announce that Honey has given birth yesterday, 10th of October, to 9 (nine!) chunky puppies with an average weight at birth over 400 g each. It’s been less than 3 weeks since we rescued this sweetie off the side of the road, in a bad state. Her momma instincts let her to us, and we remember the quiet plea in her eyes on her second day at JDC: she knew. She was carrying the responsibility of 9 little souls, all depending on her for their survival and well-being.

Honey is a very hands-on momma – she kept removing each pup from the weighing scale and putting him back at her chest, as if to ensure they were safe and sound. She removed the beds and blankets around her and the pups, creating a makeshift nest with just her body and warmth. She didn’t leave their side yet, even as we try to convince her to go out for a short break and take care of herself. Her dedication is remarkable, showcasing the powerful bond between a mother and her young. She has heaps of milk, after an initial worrying time when it seemed that milk did not come. Thanks to some encouragement and a carefully balanced diet, she eats well – puppy food and puppy milk formula to help with lactation. Our amazing vet has been on call the whole time, offering invaluable advice and guidance. We are very grateful for their calm and professional support when we started to panic at the challenges of such a new and intense experience. It’s been a long day filled with emotions, but mom and pups are all doing very well, and we offer them some much-needed time and privacy right now, letting her fully embrace her role as a nurturing mom, guiding and protecting her adorable little ones in their first days of life.