FLASh
Friends of Lafayette Animal Shelter
Ellie’s Story
December 15th, 2011
Sometimes the stars align just right. An event that could seem challenging and not-so-wonderful to one person happens to someone who sees it in an entirely different light. And that is just what happened to Ellie.
Ellie, formally Jazz when she was at the Lafayette Animal Control Center (LACC), is a beautiful Australian Shepherd girl, with a coat of deep red and eyes brimming with love. She’d been hoping for home as she sat at the shelter. One chance had already come and gone, as she’d been adopted once, only to be returned to the shelter because she didn’t stay in the unfenced yard she was expected to stay in. Her hopes were fading…
But then came the day, on January 24th, 2011, when everything changed. A nice lady, Suzanne, came to the shelter. She’d seen Jazz’s photo on the shelter’s PetFinder site, and that’s all it took. At the shelter, she met Jazz. The connection was instant. Twenty minutes later, Suzanne and Jazz, now with a new name, Ellie, were on their way home.
End of the story? Not even close. Soon after the adoption, Suzanne noticed that Ellie seemed to be gaining weight, more weight than she should. Is she…could she be…no, oh no… But a trip to the vet confirmed it. Ellie was pregnant. She apparently had been pregnant when Suzanne adopted her, unknown to anyone. To make the news even more alarming, Ellie was heart worm positive.
Suzanne shared this news with Patty, a volunteer with LACC, in an adoption follow-up call. Patty’s heart stopped…pregnant and heart worm positive. Would this mean another trip back to the shelter for Ellie? Patty’s fears were very quickly dismissed, as Suzanne shared her promise to Ellie. Ellie was now Suzanne’s dog, companion, and friend. And friends stick together, through good times and more challenging times. Patty’s heart soared. The stars were aligned just right.
Suzanne and Patty began making plans. The conversation included discussion of assistance with puppy sitting, spaying and neutering all the pups, finding them good homes, and heart worm treatment for Ellie, after she had her pups and they were weaned. And of course, spaying Ellie.
Suzanne was completely committed to Ellie and her pups, to getting everyone spayed or neutered, and to finding all the little guys and girls great homes. But this was going to be a big job. Patty told Suzanne about FLASh, Friends of the Lafayette Animal Shelter, a non-profit group she belongs to, created to help reduce the number of homeless animals at the shelter and in the Lafayette area, and to assist animals and their families, as well as local rescues. FLASh would be honored to help.
The big day arrived February 17th. “The pups were born starting on Thursday the 17th of February, and she delivered pups until the evening of the 18th. Almost 26 hours of labor!!! “What a mom!” Suzanne said to Patty about the blessed event. Hooray! We have puppies! “How many?” asked Patty. Two? Five? Eight? More?? Twelve.
Twelve puppies! A dozen! Oh my! Twelve little bundles of joy!
Sadly, three of the pups did not survive. But the other nine, well, they are doing just fine. Very hungry, and very cute. And there could not be a prouder mom.
The pups are all wonderful little bundles of fur and love. They are learning and growing, albeit into a variety of different sizes. Elliot towers over his sister, Sydney. In stature, at least. No one’s told Sydney that she so tiny. Her heart and spirit are just as big as that of her big brother.
Suzanne’s commitment to Ellie and her pups is as inspiring as it unwavering. FLASh’s commitment to Suzanne, in turn, is just as solid. The Ellie and Family Fund has been created to accept donations for Ellie and her pups. The funds will be dedicated to Ellie and her pups, for their spays and neuters, and for Ellie’s heartworm treatment.
If you would like to chip in to help Ellie and her pups, please click on the PayPal link below. All donations made to Ellie and her pups, through FLASh, are tax-deductable. And they come with an instant warm feeling inside.
Ellie and Suzanne are also looking for folks to help with puppy sitting, as Suzanne has to travel some days for her work. “Ellie’s Nannies” will be the team of people who would like to assist with this. If you’d like to be one of “Ellie’s Nannies”, please contact FLASh at contact@flashlafayette.org.
Update 5/22/11: Ellie and her pups are doing well. Thanks to a collaborative effort of Suzanne, donors, and the terrific staff at Spay Nation for Dogs and Cats, all the pups received all their puppy vet care, all have been spayed or neutered, and six have been adopted into great homes. One pup will be placed with an adopter through Lafayette Animal Aid. And two pups are staying with Suzanne and Ellie. Thank you to everyone!
Leave a Reply
Shop for all the very cool FLASh Gear in the FLASh Store!