{"id":1422,"date":"2013-02-21T22:01:05","date_gmt":"2013-02-22T03:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/heavenlycreatures\/?p=1422"},"modified":"2013-02-21T23:13:02","modified_gmt":"2013-02-22T04:13:02","slug":"indigo-orphan-pups-and-a-gift-of-mercy-a-heartwarming-dog-rescue-tale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/heavenlycreatures\/2013\/02\/indigo-orphan-pups-and-a-gift-of-mercy-a-heartwarming-dog-rescue-tale\/","title":{"rendered":"Indigo, Orphan pups and a gift of Mercy – a heartwarming dog rescue tale"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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Indigo was pregnant and headed for the shelter when she was instead surrendered to Pitty Love Rescue. Just a few days later, on January 31, she gave birth to 11 pups! (photo courtesy Pitty Love Rescue)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Here in Rochester, NY we\u2019re fortunate to have a wonderful animal group, Pitty\u00a0Love Rescue,\u00a0that does remarkable work rescuing, rehabing and rehoming pit bulls and pit\u00a0mixes. They, along with other great groups in our area, are advocates for responsible dog ownership and a well-trained dog community. There are sad stories \u2013 puppy mills, overcrowded shelters, abandoned dogs. Working in the inner city, and especially with such a misunderstood breed, can really take its toll on volunteers.<\/p>\n

So I just had to share a wonderful story with you, because it highlights the amazing work these groups do and the joys that come from their rescue efforts.<\/p>\n

A few weeks ago, the girls at Pitty Love Rescue\u00a0got a call\u00a0from a dog owner who\u00a0was going to take a very \u2013 very<\/em> \u2013 pregnant pit bull to the shelter (and certain death) unless someone could come forward to help. Although they were\u00a0already bursting at the seams,\u00a0Pitty Love\u00a0fosters and volunteers stepped up to take the dog \u2013 named Indigo \u2013 and within a few days assisted as she gave birth to 11 puppies. It was a joyous event, waiting, watching, and then celebrating as new life came from what could have been a tragic situation. Hundreds of volunteers and dog lovers from across the country were riveted to the online updates and the photos of\u00a0the new mama\u00a0and her babies.<\/p>\n

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Indigo and her pups (photo courtesy Pitty Love Rescue)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then this week, the rescue was called when someone left a box of puppies on the doorstep of Penfield Animal Hospital.\u00a0According to a story at 13WHAM.com,<\/a> Dr. Kirsten Mueller, the Veterinarian who treated the pups,\u00a0said the umbilical cords were still attached and she believed that the puppies\u00a0were only a day or two old at the time.<\/p>\n

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Eleven one-day-old pups were left on the doorstep at Penfield Animal Hospital, with no sign of their mother. After getting their initial care, they were transferred to Pitty Love Rescue. (photo courtesy Pitty Love Rescue)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pitty Love volunteers took the pups, dubbed \u201cThe Orphans\u201d, and\u00a0volunteers have spent the past week bottle feeding and caring for the babies round the clock. There was no word on what\u00a0 happened to the mother dog; despite searches of the area and shelters, there\u2019s been no sign of her.<\/p>\n

With 22 pups in their care, along with dozens of other dogs being fostered, the rescue has its hands full. Jenn Fedele, founder of Pitty Love Rescue, says, \u201cWe are super lucky to have such a GREAT network of volunteers and supporters. Seriously lucky.\u201d The problem,\u00a0though, is that even the most devout human care isn\u2019t a substitute for a warm mother dog. These little pups \u2013 just a few days old \u2013 need a mama.<\/p>\n

Enter a miracle named Mercy.<\/p>\n

Just a week ago, Mercy\u00a0and her 5-week-old pup were on\u00a0\u201cdeath row\u201d at\u00a0the city shelter (which is bursting at the seams)\u00a0when the folks at Rescued Treasures Pet Adoptions came to her rescue. (Just a side note: often in a shelter, sick dogs, dogs in need of\u00a0extensive medical care,\u00a0or very young newborns are often at the top of the \u201cdeath row\u201d list, simply because there aren\u2019t enough resources to meet their needs for any length of time.)<\/p>\n