The pups had a great time hanging out at the DART 4 Star Event this last weekend. They got lots of belly rubs and pets from everyone at the trial 🙂
Milagro
Juaquin
Esperanza
Juaquin
Milagro
Esperanza
Esperanza
Milagro
Having animals share our lives is a tough gig. They wriggle their way into our hearts and break them when they leave us.
Breeding animals is a double edge sword. With the joy and the puppy breathe also comes heartache, tears and tough decisions.
I took this litter in for puppy checks and Sweet little Cidro had a grade 5 heart murmur. I made the very hard but right decision to put hime down. I held him in my arms and told him Flasher would be there to meet him and show him the way. Flasher LOVED these little collie pups and I am sure she was happy to see little Cidro.
The other 3 pups have mild heart murmurs so they will be staying here with me until we know what is going on. Heart murmurs can go away and can be no problen or can be something very serious. Time will tell. All 3 pups are doing great in every other way. They are really starting to blossom now and I think are starting to catch up to their age.
I am hoping that the murmurs are a result of the stress these pups had while they were still in their mom and the stress they had gone through from birth…. but I don't know. I will wait until they are 18 weeks and have their hearts checked again. Then I will take them to a cardiologist and have them tested there.
The puppies are just so sweet and so beautiful. I am so sorry about little Cidro, the right thing to do is sure not the easiest one sometimes-I can not even imagine how hard that must have been. I will be thinking of Milagro, Esperanza, and Juaquin and hoping they have a perfect check up at 18 weeks.
Sorry to hear about little Cidro. It was not an easy decision to make after all your valliant effort to save these pups, I think you develop a special bond in these situations. But rest assured he is in a good place with little Flasher.
oh Julie too much puppy sadness this year for you. I hope these guys hearts will grow strong they are just adorable and obviously very much loved. Denise
Thank you Kathy. All fingers and toes are crossed here:)
Thank you Lindie. This makes me cry:( Happy /sad
Hi Denise. They are REALLY getting cute now. IT has been a very tough year. Tho I trust the Universe that all is as it should be.
Jules, I would like to applaud the fact that you blog about the good and the bad, when it comes to breeding. Too often, breeders only mention all the good stuff and either don’t mention, or gloss over, the tough stuff. You show a tremendous amount of integrity in sharing your struggles with this litter.
That being said, I’m so sorry about Cidro. As a person who has a dog with a Grade 4 heart murmur, I can say with some assurance that, even with such things, a dog can be a happy, (relatively) healthly part of the family and a joy to have around.
I’m sending happy thoughts regarding the three little ones.
Hi Ray. Thank you. I believe we are all on this journey together and sharing the good the bad and the ugly in some way helps people on their path… by either showing we are not alone, sharing experiences or just sending words and thoughts of comfort.
The pups will stay with me until I have real answers. I can not put a family through heartache.
Hoping that these are murmurs that will resolve themselves:)
I have been thinking about you since you told me this. A really happy day with my news and gut-wrenching news with yours. You are in my heart and thoughts. Life can be so cruel and so beautiful at the same time.
I am so sorry for your loss. 🙁 Such sweet puppies – I will keep them in my prayers, hoping only for the best!