Meet Sweet Valentine!

This sweet looking little dog was picked up as a stray on January 10, 2014 and was brought to the Nevada, MO animal shelter. It was not readily apparent but shelter workers would later learn that she was pregnant. A shelter isn't the ideal place for any dog but even more so for a dog that is pregnant. Valentine was very skittish at first so Lori, at the Nevada shelter, started bringing her into the office to spend time with her. Lori found that she knew how to "sit" and "lie down" and also loved to have her belly rubbed!! Valentine spent a month at the shelter waiting for someone to be claim her but no one did. Time was running out for this little girl and it was obvious that she would need out of the shelter very soon.

On February 9, 2014, a Furry Kids' volunteer made the drive to Nevada to get Valentine and bring her to her new foster home. Once there, Valentine was quick to let it be know she liked belly rubs. She settled in choosing the real bed versus a dog bed on the floor...:-) 

Valentine was brought to Cavanaugh Pet Hospital in Blue Springs for a check-up at which time we discovered she was heartworm positive...not good news! The treatment for this will have to wait until after the puppies are born and Valentine has stopped nursing.  Heartworm disease in dogs is easily prevented through a monthly pill..something that a stray or shelter dog would not have readily available.

Even Dr. Cavanaugh knows that Valentine likes belly rubs!

Let's see what's going on...

How many puppies do you count?? (hint...it's more than 8 and less than 10...:-))

On February 21st, Valentine went into labor...she had one puppy pretty quickly but then nothing happened for a few hours. Her foster mom knew this was not good and rushed Valentine to the Vet's office. 

It was late in the day, just about closing time for Cavanaugh's Pet Hospital. But that didn't matter...Dr. Cavanaugh and numerous Vet Tech's stayed late to help Valentine and her puppies.  As a result, the remaining 8 puppies were successfully delivered via a Cesarean Section.  Valentine and puppies all doing well!!

2/22/14 - Valentine & puppies...4 girls, 5 boys

HUGE THANK YOU to everyone at Cavanaugh's Pet Hospital for taking such good care of Valentine and her babies!!

Can you help Valentine & her puppies?

Unfortunately, all of this wonderful care takes a toll on the pocket book especially when not all of it was expected.  Since Valentine had to have a C-section, her veterinary expenses skyrocketed to over $1100.  And once she has finished nursing the puppies, she will have to be treated for heartworm disease which is another $300 - $400.

Fortunately for Valentine, her heartworm disease is not advanced and was caught early so she can be treated successfully. Heartworms in dogs while easy to prevent, can be very costly to cure. The dog is given two or three injections that will kill the adult heartworms in the blood vessels of the heart.  The safest way to treat heartworms includes an extensive pre-treatment workup, including X-rays, blood work, and all the tests needed to establish the seriousness of the infection.

Would you like to help support the care of Valentine and her puppies by making a donation for their veterinary expenses? Even $5 would help and all donations will go towards their care. Any donation to help with their Vet care is greatly appreciated! 

Thanks for reading about Valentine and her puppies…we appreciate your time.


Sincerely,
The Furry Kids’ Refuge team!