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Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sometimes There Is So Much SadnessEverything is ready! The whelping box is prepared with fluffy, clean towels.
The supplies are laid out, and now we wait excitedly. And, at last it is the day of the C-Section. We drive ever
so carefully with our precious cargo, the expetant Mom, to the veterinarian's office. They are prepared too. Sterile
delivery room, surgical caps, gowns and masks, and, at last, we begin. And, there they are, three beautiful puppies!
All brindle, two boys and a girl, all healthy, awake and chirping. Mom is stitched up and wakes normally. She
is groggy, but bravely accepts the introduction to her puppies and gives nursing a go.
After a while,
she is ok and her color is good. Carefully the new babies and Mom are packed up, and we head for home. All's well.
Or is it? Within a few hours Mom is having difficulty breathing. Nothing we do helps so panicked we rush back
to the vet's office. Unbelieveably within an hour she is gone. There is no answer, no relief, no way
to comprehend. All we can do is cry uncontrollably and move about in stunned disbelief.
How could
such a beautiful, wonderful, happy day turn so dark so horrible so fast. We are left with unbelievable saddness and
empitness. Terrible emotions of anguish and guilt, and fear for the challenges now facing the wonderful little
puppies.
This is a cautionary tale for the would-be breeder. Casual breeding of dogs should be avoided at
all costs. If you breed because you want to carry on the 'legacy' of your girl, or to have your children experience
the 'miracle' of birth - don't do it. If you breed dogs, make sure your purpose, goals and objectives are clear, and
be prepared for the consequences.
As this is the first time we have experienced such tragedy, it puts a completely
new perspective on our thinking. We will go forward, and continue our tradition of creating strong, healthy, beautiful
French bulldogs. We will continue to enter the show ring with pride and hopefully to continue our winning tradition.
And, we will continue to place our puppies in loving homes where both the people and dog have a wonderful and positive
life experience.
Godspeed Mocha, you are very loved, very missed. We solemly promise that your puppies
that you sacrificied so much will always be the most special ever.
Helene
Postscript: On the same
day that Mocha was having her C-Section, a little Italian Greyhound named 'Charm' came in as an emergency. She was
having difficulty whelping her puppies, and unfortunately two of her four puppies did not survive. But, Charm's owner,
the beautiful Terri, volunteered Charm as a surrogate mother. The result has been a wonderful ending to a
very tragic beginning. Charm cares for the puppies as her own, and 9 days later they are all thriving.
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