Cleveland, OHWe’ve got a little news we’ve been meaning to share. A little over a month ago we shared the story of six neglected adult Chihuahua’s who were taken in from a hoarding situation where dozens (and dozens and dozens) of dogs were confiscated and moved into the care of several local animal rescue and placement agencies. Two of the six females we were caring for we later discovered were pregnant making this rescue a little bit more challenging. The six girls not only need to to overcome emotional turmoil and go through yet another home life transition the pressing need for us is to find the two moms-to-be a safe, quiet home to give birth to their expected litter.
The Extra Mile program along with the network of support we have is truly a gift. We never shy away from the hard cases. Sometimes the dogs we commit to turn out to be a challenge we never expected so we go The Extra Mile to get the dog prepared for adoption. The Go-Go’s are no exception and since their arrival we have a lot to be grateful for.
A small group within our volunteer network we called “Team Chi” formed and we all gathered together to form a plan for the dogs care and so the journey began. Keeping the dogs in pairs was a priority for their transition into their foster homes so the dogs would have some comfort having one another. During their time decompressing the pairings were naturally occurring among the ladies which gave us relief. The volunteers on Team Chi dedicated to their care from day one and until the day of their adoption and beyond we imagine) including myself are: Melanie, John, Tracy, Amanda, Alysse, Eric, Emily. We are grateful.
Jane, the most ready-to-adopt, had taken to Belinda who was deemed the most fear reactive of the six pack and the two were paired. Belinda needed Jane’s confidence and Jane (who we truly believe may actual be one of Belinda’s offspring from a prior litter) was great at providing security to her counter part. Lucky for us Jane met a breed experienced couple and their rescued dog Vern while she and our volunteers attended the Meet-Our-Mutts in-store adoption events in Chagrin and an application for her adoption arrived the same day.
Team Chi arranged a second in-person meet and greet for Vern, Jane, Tom and Kathleen and during the time spent together it was obvious to the couple visiting they could not leave Belinda behind. Tom and Kathleen agreed to take the pair and a date was arranged for the girls to leave for their trial adopt home. Both dogs were spayed and we are elated to share the news there is a happy Chihuahua trio who will be all be provided with the life they deserve. Jane and Belinda have found their forever home. We are grateful.
Ready and standing by are two very experienced chihuahua owners: Melanie and John. The local couple living in Rocky River have opened their heart and home to many wayward chihuahuas over the years including giving a wonderful life to one of our former adoptable chihuahuas they named Lola. She was adopted in 2018 and sadly passed on from heart issues earlier this year. After the devastating loss of Lola in March followed by the April adoption of Brutus who unexpectedly passed away in May. And then the heartbreak returns. This time the heartbreaking loss comes in August when Melanie’s rescued and fifteen-year companion Coco who was a friend to all those she welcomed into the home passes away. While the heart seems to be the common theme this undeniably caring couple is not missing a beat when it comes to providing love and companionship to all of the dogs they commit to caring for. We are grateful.
The seemingly heartbreak hotel home for rescue dogs and dog owners with hearts of gold now had a vacancy and Melanie and John took to a heartworm positive chihuahua in need and began fostering Wynston this fall. Focusing on heartworm treatments and care put fostering other dogs needs on pause. And then the Go-Gos arrived. Melanie did not hesitate after joining our efforts as a team and she quickly agreed to take in both Paula and Gina. This pairing was also an easy to spot relationship in the making as Paula, the oldest of the group we were caring for, seemed to have the confidence Gina would need to come out of her shell. Gina, the second most fearful though lacking fear-based reactivity would allow in time those she trusted to touch and pet her. Private quarters were set up at the house and shortly thereafter the girls arrived. We are grateful.
Within just a few days Paula and Gina started to explore the house, they were opening up and in just a couple weeks time they were seeking attention and the youngsters Gina and Wynston were bonding as best of friends while Paula made sure to get her beauty rest on the couch.
The girls remained in foster care while Team Chi sifted through the incoming adoption applications, screening each for a match leading us to Melanie hosting a meet and greet at her home for adoption-hopefuls Mary and Mike who share a home with their rescued chihuahua Chico. Meeting with the intention of taking home Gina to be a companion for Chico once again the applicants were intuitive and agreed to give both girls a home. Paula and Gina have found their forever home. We are grateful.
While Jane, Belinda, Paula and Gina are settling in to their foster homes and have now found forever homes there are four more special ladies we must share. Receiving the news shortly after the dogs arrived that both Margo and Charlotte were expecting litters Team Chi did what needed to be done. We enlisted the help of our supporters! We needed birthing pools and they were received. We needed pee-pads and shipments arrived. We needed puppy food for the mama dogs and puppy food filled our pantry. Thank you to everyone who answered our call, those who made a donation and for every ounce of believing in our mission. We are grateful.
We need a foster home for both dogs we were running out of time. Margo and Charlotte were staying at our facility in the care of The Mutt Hutt staff. Their birthing kennels were set up in Becca’s office along with night-vision cameras for round-the-clock Team care. We anticipated the arrival of Charlotte giving birth to 5 puppies followed by Margo giving birth to 3 or 4 puppies.
Long time supporters of Secondhand Mutts and members of Team Chi are Tracy and Amanda. Called in shortly after the dogs arrived the “plan” was for Margo to reside in their care. Upon meeting Margo and Charlotte and knowing what was to come (any day now) these dog-owning-and-experienced women put on their hero capes and prepared their soundproof basement for the arrival of both moms-to-be. The birthing pools and pens and supplies were packed into the car and set up in Parma Heights was underway.
Back at our facility in an office and without warning – we were expecting Charlotte to give birth first – Margo went into labor! She gave birth on October 18 to three puppies one of whom didn’t make it and passed in the hands of our volunteers. Amanda, an in-home pet care provider, and her partner Tracy who has a veterinary technician background returned to take Margo and her two pups home along with Charlotte who we were anxiously awaiting to go into labor. Sadly, just a few days after losing one of the pups Margo lost a second pup. Left with one girl puppy Margo settled in and also made room for a special stuffed toy she claimed as one of her pups. We knew after losing two puppies and the reality of the potential for more loss the idea of having both nursing moms together to share the load nursing became a reality. It has truly been a gift for both of our mama dogs to land in such a relaxing and special home. Thank you Tracy and Amanda. We are grateful.
Just shy of a week later on October 23 in the comfort one of the best mama dog maternity wards in Cleveland our Charlotte gave birth to five puppies! Team Chi and the proud foster moms were able to keep an eye on mom and pups from anywhere thanks to the live video system we set up in advance. One again we faced heartbreak when a day after giving birth Charlotte lost one of her pups. Margo stepped in to assist with nursing Charlotte’s puppies and since then the two have been caring for their litters like the champions they are.
Charlotte and Margo have been caring for 1 male and 4 girls. The puppies are now over a month old respectively and everyone is doing great. The puppies have transitioned to puppy food and both moms are getting the necessary rest and breaks they deserve. Needless to Amanda and Tracy are knee deep in puppy-madness while they keep up with all the shenanigans, feedings, poop, pee and play. We are excited to share two of the puppies will be staying as forever residents with Amanda and Tracy. Congratulations to Rosie and Piper! We are grateful.
As soon as the Go-Go girls arrived and we shared their story followed by the news we were expecting puppies our volunteers have been extremely busy accepting, screening and preparing for processing the adoption applications we have received so we can match the remaining dogs and puppies with committed forever homes. To have all of the help we have and to know there are some great families and candidates to adopt the dogs puts our minds at ease. We are grateful.
Charlotte and Margo will be ready to be away from their pups in the next week or two and each will be moved into trial adoption homes. There are three puppies who will be matched and placed shortly thereafter: Wilma, Hanna and Mowgli as pictured left to right:
We are no longer accepting applications as we have handfuls of wonderful applicants to whom we will choose homes for the puppies. Given the time of year and the puppies ages falling around the dates the of approaching gift-giving holiday season we are mindful that we must respect the dog and this includes our belief the holidays may not be the best time to place rescue dogs in homes due to the return rates of adopted and store purchased pets, dogs and puppies bred and sold for holiday gift giving who often times find themselves in the care of animal rescue agencies months later when the novelty wears off and the responsibilities of caring for a pet set in.
We ask for your patience once again and respect our wishes for their to be no chihuahua puppies placed in stockings by the chimney with care. Our mission for Wilma, Hanna and Mowgli is to gift them the gift of placing them in forever homes at the arrival of the new year. To show your support and gift the gift of giving back our volunteers have set up three giving trees to help support our mission and cause. Choose a giving tree location, select a bone shaped ornament listing a suggested donation, make your contribution and return the bone ornament to the tree with your or your pets name.
 Giving Trees are located at The Mutt Hutt at 2603 Scranton Road and The Mutt Hutt Grooming Salon at 2626 Scranton Road or pop into the Chagrin Pet, Garden and Power Equipment store located at 188 Solon Road in Chagrin Falls. |
We wish you and the pets you care for as well as those that have passed who are never forgotten the happiest of holidays this season. Thank you for your support, your generosity, your dedication and all the millions of volunteer minutes that add up each year. Without you we could not continue to take in and place as many dogs.
We are grateful.
Founder and Volunteer Executive Director
