TulsaPets Magazine January 2022

January/February 2022 • TulsaPets 15 “Might be bred.” The words stood out on the paperwork like a beacon piercing the fog. Glancing down at my new spotted charge, the word might quickly turned to is as my increasingly overwhelmed brain registered her plump belly. Jim, my partner in life and in dog craziness, had just arrived home with the two adult females and three 12-week-old puppies that our Dalmatian rescue had saved from life in a puppy mill. Adding five foster dogs to our already busy home was a lot. The prospect of adding who knows how many more was numbing. But as we do, as all animal rescuers do, we put our heads down and got to work welcoming the dogs and figuring out the hows, whens, and wheres. No need to question why as three sets of brown eyes, two blue eyes, and one charming pup with one of each color looked up ques- tioningly into our faces. It was our job to make their lives infinitely better. Thankfully, an amazing friend and experi- enced puppy foster, Rylee, volunteered to take mom-to-be Peggy, named in honor of the bene- factor who had supported her rescue. Big sigh of relief on our front because fostering a mom with newborn puppies requires a specific setup and a lot of work. Peggy was moved to her comfy maternity home just a few days before we suspected her puppies might arrive. This is the point where the foster brain kicks in full steam to focus on day-to-day tasks. Have the mom checked over by the veterinarian. Settle her in to her whelping box. Gather blan- kets, piddle pads, towels, and other necessary supplies. Check on momma a thousand times a day. Watch for signs. Be ready. Flipping Camera The Viewpoint from Rescue to Adoption Story and photographs by Nancy Gallimore Peggy shares a peaceful moment with her pups.