Guardians of Rescue, a non-profit organization and animal sanctuary in Smithtown, New York, partnered with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department to rescue hundreds of puppies from a Tennessee puppy mill. Among the fortunate animals who made it out of that horrible area alive was Hazel, a pregnant Dachshund.
Hazel was taken directly from the rescue spot to the vet’s clinic and then to her foster home.
Hazel was extremely timid when she first joined her foster family. She had never encountered another human being before, and thus had no idea how to behave in front of her foster mother, Janice. When Janice called her, she simply glanced at her and did not venture outside her kennel.
It took a few days for the dog to gain the confidence to approach her foster mother. However, she remained uncertain and withdrew frequently. She required a great deal of time and patience to acclimatize to her new surroundings, and that was something that her foster mom understood.
After two weeks, Hazel went into labor. She had previously given birth to multiple litters but was at a loss at what to do without assistance. Janice, thankfully, was there to keep her company.
Hazel was taken aback when her first puppy emerged. She did nothing more than stare at her. However, after the birth of her second pup, her maternal instinct kicked in and everything went quite well.
All seven puppies were finally born after a couple of hours. All of them were healthy and they were named Praline, Marshmallow, Peppermint Bark, Rum Raisin, Cookie Dough, Bourbon Cream, and Truffles. They breastfed nicely and quickly increased in size.
Hazel began to act differently after she healed and regained her strength. She was vivacious, playful, and cheerful. She even spent the entire day playing with her puppies. Finally, she discovered how much fun and happy it is to be a dog.
All of the lucky puppies found their forever homes at approximately ten months of age. Mama Hazel, on the other hand, found her home four months after her rescue. It was a triumphant ending for everyone.
Source: The Dodo
