“I need help! There are 16 puppies here!”

One Wednesday last month, Sharon Stone, In Defense of Animals Operations Manager at Hope Animal Sanctuary, received a call for help.  Not one, but two dogs had given birth to puppies at the caller’s house, with a grand total of 16 puppies born, and getting big enough to have appetites for more than their mothers’ milk.

Space is always at a premium in any animal rescue facility, and Hope Animal Sanctuary is no exception.  Our team immediately got to work moving dogs to make space for the 16 babies, gathering bedding, preparing dog houses, purchasing puppy food, and soon enough, the sanctuary was prepared for its newest residents.

Our personnel collected all 16 puppies and took them back to the sanctuary. After being wormed and vaccinated, we held a photo session for the pups. By the next day, all of the puppies had been chosen to go to three of our rescue partners in the North East.  All 16 will remain with us at the sanctuary until we have given them two sets of vaccinations, other necessary medications, and monitored them to be sure they are healthy before leaving for their new homes.

And the pups’ moms? The family who called in for our help got them spayed with our help, and these dogs will no longer be contributing to the problem of too many new dogs needing  good homes.

Pictured is Hope Animal Sanctuary caregiver Shay Cole as she plays with one litter of the puppies.