There was a strange box along the trail.
Inside was a litter of newborn puppies. The umbilical cords were still attached to the pups.
A quick response
The Harford County Humane Society took the puppies into their care. They were placed in an incubator and bottle-fed. The rescuers were very worried, as it was extremely cold that morning and they were terrified that the puppies wouldn't be able to regulate their body temperature at that age.
The little bundles of fur were examined, bottle-fed, and placed in an incubator to keep them alive. Sadly, the weakest one didn't survive, but the other three are doing well, thanks to the passer-by's quick thinking and the Humane Society's swift intervention.
Round-the-clock care needed
The puppies need care 24 hours a day and must be bottle-fed every three to four hours. They need to be stimulated to go to the toilet, just as their mother would do. Heating pads must also be used to keep them warm.
Foster families responded to the urgent appeal the rescue centre put out on Facebook. The three puppies are now in the care of their foster mum. In just a few days, they've already gained a few ounces each. They're doing very well, they're healthy and active, which has reassured the rescuers. A wonderful journey of growth now lies ahead of them. The puppies should be available for adoption around mid-December.
