As we don't normally pull from Riverside County, I assumed rescues who do would step up and take on this litter of five, so I ignored the first few emails... By about the 30th email in my box, it dawned on me no one else either had space (not like we do), others did not want to take on the whole litter or didn't want to deal with the demodex which is a long term, but labor intensive rescue and can be costly...
While I waited to hear that they were safe, I started thinking about the back-up plan for the plan should no one rescue this litter... Finally, I inquired about the litter to learn that no one was going to take the entire litter and keep them together through the rehab... And we as a rescue, started trying to find a way to transport this litter...
Cindy (Sorenson) began this journey as their first guardian angel... She advocated their safety and agreed to get them out of the shelter if we could find transportation from a halfway point (Riverside / Simi Valley)... I reached out to our volunteers to see if anyone could transport... Three stepped up, including Sandy's husband who offered to pick them up and fly them into us...
At the end, Holly drove and Gherry went along to help... Cindy picked up the litter on Thursday morning and drove the first leg, meeting Holly and Gherry for the second leg of the journey... As Gherry has taken on the fostering of our 2 blind Chi puppies (Peanut and Butter) to make room for this litter of five at my home, it was decided it made more logical sense for us to do the 3rd leg start at his home...
The 'Hollywood 5' arrived yesterday afternoon in Thousand Oaks and Gherry tended to their needs until I could pack up Peanut and Butter for him... I arrived in the afternoon with their 'crib', food, pitty pads, etc. and was shocked when I saw the litter... Not as bad as our BabyLove was with secondary infections, I just can't believe someone dumped these five pups in an overnight drop box at a shelter.... (sigh)...
We did our 'puppy exchange' and I headed home... The pups were pretty quiet for the trip but stunk to high heaven between the demo and some 'presents' in the two large kennels...
Once home, the task began to weigh, photograph and get their medicated bath and meds routine going... I (unwisely) chose Garbo as the first one... Turns out, the litter is TIGHTLY bonded and once bathed, dried off and medicated, she was NOT going to stay in the Xpen as I proceeded on to take care of her siblings...
I grabbed DeNiro next, worried about his small size and being lethargic, having set Garbo down in the Xpen already set up and waiting... I hadn't even started his bath when Garbo climbed out of the Xpen and flew over to the kennels where the rest of her littermates were... I put her back in the Xpen, she climbed back out immediately... I put her in again, she'd climb out (as I was still holding DeNiro)...
I'm not sure if it became a game to her or what, but it turned into a 'Laurel and Hardy' routine... Oh yes, she'd give me lots of kisses but as soon as I set her down, she'd start climbing all over again...
I finally improvised a makeship 'top' to the Xpen and managed to get DeNiro into his awaiting bath...
He's small and tiny, but seemed to be more interested in food than climbing (thankfully)...
I thought I had the climbing situation under control and after reaching in to pick up Bogart, Garbo decided she was NOT going to stay in the Xpen no matter what... A phone call to my daughter was made to ask her to bring home an Xpen top from one of the other volunteers was promptly made as I used bungee cords to secure the Xpen with a puppy gate I happened to have here...
After putting Garbo back in the for upteenth time, I returned to Bogart, snapped the photo and then started his bath... Of the five, Bogart's feet are the worst ones - they are swollen up like pontoons on a flying bi-plane... It must be painful for him, but he didn't even cry as I soaped them up along with the rest of him in the medicated shampoo...
He too was very interested in dinner and stayed put as I then started with Bardot... Both she and Bronson seemed laid back (so far), but it could be the long, LONG journey they had throughout the day too...
Finally it was Bronson's turn and he had sat quietly throughout all of this, waiting for his turn at leaving a poopy kennel and into a nice warm bath...
Two and a half hours later, all five were nicely bathed, tucked into a nice warm velour blankee and ready to sleep off the exhaustion (as well as I was~)...
Long day, but their first day's journey has been undertaken and accomplished thanks to the vast amount of help and networking amonmg the humane community...
THANK YOU every one for insuring these dogs were not left to die!!!
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