Make a Donation
Providing care for Xena and her puppies is going to be a costly process. Every donation will make a difference. Please give what you can to help us get them all ready for the lives they deserve.
Get Updates!
Like our Facebook page to get regular updates on Xena and her pups!
Donate for Xena and Her Babies
A man moved, leaving his Danes behind - two females and a male. Eventually they escaped to live in the nearby woods. They were starving and no longer trusted humans. People were not kind to them, throwing rocks and chasing them with vehicles. One night, there were gun shots. One of the females had given birth to puppies under a house and the neighbor was trying to scare her. It worked, she ran off, leaving the puppies without a mother. The male was never seen again; the other female was captured later and placed in a home. On January 10th, ten puppies (two had not survived) were taken in to Coastal Pet Rescue foster homes to be bottle fed and raised for adoption. Three sadly passed two days later, but seven ultimately went on to find incredibly loving new families.
When CPR accepted the puppies, we promised to accept the mom whenever she was captured. Two incredibly kind-hearted people, Brenda and Wanda, worked tirelessly for months trying to capture her, setting up various traps and kennels and installing wildlife nighttime cameras to track her activities. They put dewormer in food for her, trying to help keep her healthy until we could get her. Finally on Friday night, October 10, she was caught.
Xena was brought to our vent early Saturday morning, October 11. We could tell by her stomach she was going to give birth any day now. We worked to get her comfortable, start some light vet care (her heartworm test was positive), and get her foster home ready to accept her that coming Monday.
On October 17 at 4:40 am, Xena delivered her first pup. Over the next 16 hours, she delivered 9 puppies. When her foster parents went to clean her up the next morning, they found 3 more. In all, Xena birthed 6 boys and 6 girls!
Once the puppies are weaned, Xena will be spayed and treated for heartworms. We are looking at about 4 months before she is healthy and ready for adoption.
Update October 30, 2014:
She had a postpartum checkup on Wednesday Oct 29th. Upon examination, Dr. Bragg found that she was running a fever and had discharge from the vulva, which looked to be infection. She was prescribed a round of antibiotics and is due for a recheck next thursday. Pups were all examined at that time also and were given dewormer to start all of them on every 2 weeks.
Update November 6, 2014:
Xena had a recheck today. She walked into the vets office on leash, stepped on the scale, almost had a meltdown but didn't, got up and walked into an exam room all on her own. She is now at 106 lbs, her infection is cleared up, and she was able to get her vaccines today.
Update March 26, 2015:
Today we celebrate... after surviving the birthing of 2 litters equaling 24 puppies, eluding capture for 10 months, having masses removed, surviving pyrometria requiring an early spay before her puppies were weaned, and two rounds of heartworm treatment, Xena finally has a clean bill of health today! It's been a long road for her since January 2014, but she is a happy member of the Hunt family and no longer has to worry about any more puppies!
Xena's Puppies
The 12 puppies - 6 boys and 6 girls - will be available for adoption after they are 8 weeks old. We will list them individually for adoption when we are ready for applicants.
In the meantime, you can help us with their puppy shower! Currently, we're feeding Xena puppy food to help her get the best nutrition to pass on to the babies. In four weeks, they will start weaning, and we'll need canned and dry food available for them. We're collecting now to be ready. Please feel free to shop our Amazon.com wishlist, or contact us
Xena's puppies were all placed with loving families just in time for Christmas!
