In My Own Backyard

I woke up one day last week to the unmistakable whimper of puppies.

My heart sank.  I knew immediately where it was coming from.  I had heard it before.

I looked out my back window and my suspicions were confirmed. 

I counted at least six little puppies, maybe 5-6 weeks old.  I know who their momma is – she’s a repeat offender.  She’s one of the many stray dogs who roam my neighborhood, un-cared for, un-loved, and of course un-spayed.  She hangs out in my neighbors back yard a lot of the time, though she doesn’t “belong” to them (that is, they claim no responsibility for her).  And so, these puppies,  like other litters before them, will go unclaimed as well.

Since Foster Dad and I began our foster journey almost a year ago, we’ve rehomed five dogs.  Five dogs who otherwise might not have had a chance at a happy healthy life, are now in loving furever homes.  This last batch of stray puppies brought more dogs into this world than Foster Dad and I have rescued and rehomed since we started fostering.  Because of this one dog, all our efforts have essentially been canceled out – plus one more!

Talk about a deflating moment.

I see these poor puppies and I feel completely helpless.  We are absolutely not in a situation to rescue a litter of puppies.  And if they have any pit bull in them (and knowing who the daddy most likely is, they probably do), they don’t have a chance at the Humane Association or our local Animal Control – neither of whom adopt out pit bulls. 

At the same time, my heart aches for them and their mother – did Roxie come from a situation like this?  Was she born under a shed to a malnourished over-bred mother?  When she was big enough, did she finally wander off because she didn’t know what else to do?  If we hadn’t picked her up that night, how soon would it have been before she popped out a litter of her own?

I’ve had this post in “draft” form for nearly a week now, trying to think of a nice tidy way to wrap it up.  I don’t have it.  I am beyond upset at what I see going on right in front of me.  I can’t even bring myself to think about how many other stray dogs in my city alone are contributing to the pet overpopulation problem, right this moment – let alone all over the country. Every time I come back to this post to finish it up, I get so angry I could cry.  So, with nothing else to say o the matter at this moment….

…to be continued.

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