Despite her injured foot, flea and tick infestation, and a severe case of mange, homeless Mama Petunia and her Papa pup partner did their best to keep their eight babies safe from harm while living on the streets. However, all eight puppies have become stricken with a deadly virus, and are now in the hospital fighting for their lives.
We recently rescued a mama and papa pup along with their 8 young babies who had been living outside of a ranch near Tijuana, MX. An elderly resident of Tijuana had been doing his best to care for this little family, but they now needed more support than this kind stranger was able to provide. Unfortunately, this dedicated mama, whom we named Petunia, was also struggling to provide for her puppies. When we found Petunia, she was covered in fleas and ticks, and suffering from a severe case of mange. Mites had ravaged her body, leaving large hairless patches of raw and irritated skin. To make matters worse, we believe that Petunia had recently been hit by a car, leaving this poor girl barely able to walk with a severely injured paw.
This little family had spent each day and night outside in the cold, exposed to the elements. After being alerted to their situation, we immediately sent a driver out to pick up Mom, Dad, and all the babies. The babies were in poor condition when they were found, suffering from extreme gastrointestinal distress. They were huddled together for warmth and support while their poor bellies twisted and turned in agonizing discomfort. We rushed them to our vet, and all eight puppies were tragically diagnosed with Parvovirus, an incredibly infectious virus that causes constant vomiting and diarrhea, which can be fatal in young puppies. The babies were hospitalized and are receiving supportive care. Fortunately, Petunia and papa pup are both relatively healthy, aside from Petunia’s injury. This sweet family has worked so hard just to survive, so the least we could do is give these sweet pups a helping hand.
The puppies have been hospitalized for several days, and will likely remain in the hospital for a bit longer. It seems that they have all miraculously made it through the worst of the virus, but if they are taken off of supportive care too soon it could mean the difference between life and death. Someone from our team is checking on these babies at the vet every day to ensure they are getting the best care possible. Mama Petunia and Papa Pup are both resting comfortably with a paid foster. Petunia has begun flea and tick medication, as well as medication for her mange. In Mexico, it is more typical for fosters to receive compensation for opening their homes to animals in need. Once we are sure that the puppies are stable, we will be getting Mama Petunia’s leg treated. We are hopeful that we can get this entire family healthy enough to be vaccinated and spayed/neutered very soon!
If you are able, please consider donating whatever you can to help us cover the cost of this family’s care. Keeping these puppies hospitalized is quite costly, and we are also looking to raise funds for Petunia’s medical needs. You can also send this family a gift from their wishlist to show them how much they are loved. Thank you so much for your incredible support. We could not continue to help families like this without you!