In real life, happy endings can get complicated. Spring, Summer and babies struck gold when they landed in Peggy's Puppy Palace, but since it's reality and not a movie they didn't just live happily ever after. Eight out of ten of the puppies became ill with the canine herpes virus and did not survive. The herpes virus is transmitted via the mother during birth. The mother will usually show no symptoms or possibly a slight upper respiratory ailment, but the puppies usually become ill between 1 and 3 weeks of age. There is no treatment and once a puppy becomes ill it is a certainty that he or she will die. Anyone who has ever cared for a litter of pups with canine herpes is forever changed- we hold our breath for the first three weeks of every subsequent litter!
For happy ending number two, Spring and Summer are happy, healthy and about to go to a new home together. Baby Zena the warrior princess is already in her new home and Baby God Zeuss is well on his way.
As for Peggy and Dave, they have proven their mettle by not abandoning future puppies who need them and are ready to welcome the next group, though they might hold their breath for just a little while...
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
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