Summer Puppies: The Literary Mice

I hadn’t planned on taking any puppies this summer. I wanted to be able to do some camping, kayaking, traveling…but then the heat/drought arrived and my youngest got a promotion that has him moving back to the east coast in August (2.5 hours from us).

I don’t think the temperatures will come down anytime soon if the Weather Channel is to be trusted, and Ian will need us (or at least our truck) for his big move. The water levels are so low that kayaking is out of the question, and frankly, I couldn’t justify staying on the sidelines while shelters are completely overwhelmed and the ‘euthanasia’ numbers continue to climb.

The Literary Mice Litter arrived this past Saturday. I met their transport in Hagerstown. I had been warned that the mama dog was skinny, but oh my, she was literally skeletal. Petting her is like running your hand over a grill, just bone after bone.

When I pulled her out of the transport crate and set her on the ground, she immediately collapsed and rolled over. Submissive doesn’t begin to cover it. I picked her back up and snuggled her close and promised her that life gets better now.

Generous readers and friends quickly sent me supplies for both mama and puppies (THANK YOU!) including Dyne and quality food to help her gain weight and colorful collars so I can tell the eight brown puppies apart. It’s only been a few days, but already I don’t really need the collars. They may look alike on the videos, but there are variations to the shades of brown, length of fur, size, and shapes. (I’ll note the collar colors below with their pictures in case you want to know who’s who in the live videos)

The puppies weighed between 1 pound ten ounces and 2 pounds 13 ounces at their first weigh in, two days after they arrived. But in the days since, most of them have been packing on ounces at an alarming rate. That is likely due to being dewormed and also to getting solid food (which they love, except Ralph who loves me more than food and will follow me around or whine at the fence if he can see me, so I have to stay out of sight so he will eat).

I’ve named mama, Mrs. Frisby (in keeping with my theme) and Frisby is a great name for her because she is really just a puppy herself, likely less than a year old. She’s also playful and affectionate and gaining energy every day as she gains strength.

She is embarrassingly sweet, almost grateful, for any/all attention and desperately hungry. She’s getting five meals a day and copious treats, plus a stuffed kong, but still can’t keep from trying to get in the trash can or cat litter box if I’m not looking. She’ll eat just about anything.

I’m getting to know the puppies and I’m sure I’ll have more to tell you about them next week. If you want to see them in action, visit the Another Good Dog Facebook group where I’m posting daily videos. The pictures I’ve gotten so far, aren’t great. It’s hard to photograph puppies that are this small!

When I put them on the treatment counter to deworm, give shots, get weights, or attempt pictures, Hazel (my foster cat) immediately offers her assistance. I think she’s just reminding me that she is much more deserving of my attention than they are, but maybe she likes teasing the puppies, too. Most of the puppies try to nurse on her, which she decidedly doesn’t like. Sometimes she prowls the outside of their puppy pen and they run along, chasing her and yipping.

With the disclaimer that I’m usually wrong, I’m gonna guess that these puppies will grow to be 15-30 pounds. Mrs. Frisby is 27 pounds (thank you Jackie for the dog scale!!). Once her milk recedes and she gains weight, I’d guess she’ll be around 30 pounds. I have no idea on dad or breed. I’ve been telling people they are West Virginia brown dogs, cause that’s all I can honestly say about their heritage.

Meet the Literary Mice Litter:

Norman the Doorman (white collar) has a shiny, sleek coat and is the biggest of the puppies, weighing 3 pounds, 7 ounces today at 6.5 weeks. He is easy-going and seems confident as puppies go.

Maisy Mouse (yellow collar) is one of the smaller pups, weighing 2 pounds, 7 ounces. She is very sweet and always seems to be a step behind the others, running to catch up. Maybe because she’s busy with her own thoughts? She is the only female puppy with light brown fur.

Stuart Little (green collar) is a yummy chocolate color with soft, short fur and an extra handsome face. He weighs 3 pounds, 4 ounces today. He is the most interested in the toys (and Hazel). The puppies have obviously not encountered toys before because they more or less ignore them most of the time.

Angelina Ballerina (red collar) is the runt of the litter. She’s still catching up and right now is all bony angles around a round belly. Hopefully, good food and deworming will help. She weighs 2 pounds, 3 ounces today. She is a quiet observer much of the time and always one of the first to start the puppy pile at nap time. Hopefully, as she feels better, her energy will grow too.

Gus Gus (orange collar) is a funny guy who keeps busy. He enjoys tackling his siblings and is always game for ‘face wrestling’ (chewing on each others faces). He’s a big fan of mealtime and weighed in at 3 pounds, 5 ounces today. He has super short, light brown fur and a long face, making him very distinctive from the others.

Chrysanthemum (pink collar) is the beauty in the bunch. She’s also tiny at only two pounds even today. She has bright, sparkly eyes and a white patch on her chin. She loves to be cuddled. Her fur is medium-length and very soft. She’s not gaining weight very quickly, but hopefully, that will pick up as her health improves.

Ralph the Motorcycle Mouse (blue collar) is my biggest fan. He absolutely adores me and makes sure I know this. If I’m in the room, he is not interested in his siblings or toys or food or even sleeping. He loves, loves, loves to be cuddled. He is 2 pounds, 7 ounces today. He has long, fuzzy fur and beautiful coloring – brown, with black edges, and a sweet face.

Noisy Nora (purple collar) is one of the bigger pups weighing in at 3 pounds, 7 ounces today. She has medium-length chocolate brown fur. She is confident and strong, likes toys, and her siblings and me and Hazel equally. She’s a really nice puppy.

If you or anyone you know is interested in adopting one of these mice dogs, they are available for adoption through Operation Paws for Homes.

If you’re local (or would like to make a road trip to the Shenandoah Valley – we have mountains and wineries), the puppies welcome any/all visitors. With eight puppies, it’s hard for me to give them a lot of one one-on-one attention.

They will be ready to go home with adopters after July 31.

(Hazel is available for adoption through the Humane Society of Shenandoah County.)

Until Each One Has a Home,

Cara

For information on me, my writing, and books, visit CaraWrites.com.

If you’d like regular updates of all our foster dogs past and present, plus occasional dog care/training tips, and occasional foster cat updates (!) be sure to join the Facebook group, Another Good Dog. If you’d like to see dogs I’m connected to who are available for adoption in Shenandoah County, visit Shenandoah County Adoptable Dogs on Facebook.

And if you’d like to know where all these dogs come from and how you can help solve the crisis of too many unwanted dogs in our shelters, visit WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org and subscribe to our blog where we share stories of our travels to shelters, rescues, and dog pounds. You can support our work by donating items and/or bidding during our fall online auction.

If you can’t get enough foster dog stories, check out my book: Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs. Or its follow up that takes you to the shelters in the south One Hundred Dogs & Counting: One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey Into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues.

I love to hear from readers and dog-hearted people! Email me at carasueachterberg@gmail.com.