Poppy and her tiny pups
If you’ve been following Battersea’s new ITV1 series Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs, then you’ll probably have fallen in love with little Bourbon, a tiny Chihuahua cross Jack Russell who was abandoned and heavily pregnant and gave birth to five puppies by emergency C-Section in the middle of the night.
- Date:
- 21 September 2012
- Source:
- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
Battersea is now caring for another Jack Russell Terrier who gave birth to eight tiny puppies on 31 August. Brave Poppy gave birth to all her puppies naturally, but just like Bourbon’s litter, these puppies need a helping hand from our Clinic team and their next few weeks will be critical.
Like 37 per cent of dogs at Battersea, Poppy and her friend Buster, who is also a Jack Russell Terrier arrived at Battersea as their owners could no longer care for them. Poppy was pregnant with Buster’s offspring, and both dogs were very traumatised in the new environment they found themselves in.
Poppy is just four years old, and this is her fourth litter. Unfortunately Poppy rejected one of the puppies, and after an attempt to hand-rear him he sadly passed away. Another puppy is currently being hand-reared by staff in an attempt to save its life, after it was struggling to feed due to the competition of her mother’s milk from her siblings.
Vicky Snook, Senior Rehomer at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home says: “Little Poppy has been through so much, just like Bourbon from the ITV series. Not only was she pregnant with eight puppies, but at the same time she had the trauma of losing her family, her home, and all that was familiar to her. All the staff and volunteers here are looking after her and giving her and her pups lots of TLC. Hopefully it won’t be long before they all go off to the happy homes they deserve.”
Buster was neutered during his stay at Battersea, and has since found a new home in Surrey where he is living happily.
Poppy’s puppies have been named Donkey Kong, Jelly tot, Buttons, Tooty Fruity, Spangles, Twix, Mario, and are all on hold to go to their new homes once they are old enough. Hopefully it won’t be long until Poppy finds her happy ending.
