Jolene (FKA Daisy)

In early August, two pocket Pit Bulls were abandoned in a house known for drug use in Oklahoma. Jolene (formerly known as Daisy) and the other dog, who we suspect to be her mom, were forced to live outdoors and alone in deplorable conditions. When Jolene and her companion were finally saved by a local rescue, Jolene was extremely pregnant. With both dogs in need of urgent medical care and the local rescue unable to afford their treatment, a desperate plea for help was put out on social media. As soon as we heard of these poor dogs' situation, we immediately agreed to help.

We worked closely with the incredible team at Pilots N Paws to get Jolene to Michigan. It took three planes and three different pilots, but we finally had Jolene in our arms on August 31st. Within hours of her arrival, Jolene's body temperature dropped, a sign that she was going into labor. It's as if her body knew she was finally in safe hands!

However, Jolene's labor wasn’t progressing at the usual rate, so we got her to the vet as quickly as possible. Jolene was admitted to Cedar Animal Hospital and was found to have pneumonia and anemia. The x-rays showed her puppies were not fully developed but would need to be delivered via C-section to save Jolene's life. Her body simply was not up to the task of a normal birth. The surgeon told us that the situation was very bad and no one might survive, but they would do their very best. We held our breaths, anxiously awaiting ANY news from the labor room. Later that evening, the doctor brought out 9 tiny puppies that sounded like kittens. 

Jolene, however, was not doing well and required multiple blood transfusions. Vets couldn't stabilize her blood pressure; it was touch and go for hours. Jolene stayed the night in an oxygen chamber until she was stable enough to go home with her puppies. What's more, for several days, sweet Jolene couldn't make enough milk for all her puppies, so they had to be bottle-fed and, later on, tube-fed. Jolene and her puppies required multiple hospitalizations in the first four weeks of their new life for pneumonia and other complications. 

Tragically, four of her puppies passed away within the first two weeks due to birth defects and failure to thrive, but her remaining five pups grew up to be healthy and strong and were adopted at ten weeks old to wonderful families. 

However, after weaning her angels, another problem arose. Jolene continued to have medical complications, including Ehrlichiosis, skin allergies, and excessive bleeding during her spay, requiring more blood transfusions and overnight hospitalization. Her road to life after motherhood looked bumpy, but luckily, she had just the right human by her side to help pave the rest of the way.

In a heartwarming and healing turn of events, Jolene was adopted by her foster mama after months of bonding through their traumatic experience. Sweet Jolene already felt so loved and at home in this environment that it made perfect sense for her to become a permanent resident. Jolene gets to play every day with her two sisters, who adore her,  and since their family is still a foster family, precious Jolene will get to show off her mama skills for many puppies to come. 

This gentle girl has been enjoying her life as a house hippo. She is provided with everything she needs, deserves, and wants, and we are SO pleased to say that after so many trials, this darling girl finally gets to have her happy ever after! 

While we are sad to part with this innocent angel, we could not be happier at the beautiful little world Jolene and her family are creating for themselves. This sweet pup is DEFINITELY starting a new chapter! Isn’t it thrilling? And it’s all thanks to you! Through her CUDDLY campaign, we were able to raise awareness, funds, and resources for this little pup. A heartfelt thanks goes to you all, her incredible army of supporters, whose generosity and care made this transformation possible!  Here's to a fantastic 2024 for Jolene and all the new adventures that await in her loving home! 🐾✨