Help - a Lovely but heavily pregnant Lurcher turned up at my door today

[HoundoftheBaskervilles]

I know it's late & I know there's a thread for pointy hound lovers, but I seem to have acquired a heavily pregnant Lurcher, she was lurking round my house all day - very rural no near neighbours, every time I looked out the door she was there, very underfed but sweet & extremely sociable, after about three hours I crumbled & fed her, at which point I noticed she was HEAVILY pregnant & rather skinny.

I've taken her to the Vets', no chip, no report, so she's come back here, she had a show of mucus at the vets' and has been intermittently been panting very heavily, I've phoned the vet again (who luckily are personal friends) who told me how to do an internal, couldn't feel anything yet, so I guess it's just a waiting game.

I've had dogs in the past, but DOGS, never bitches & I've never whelped a pup in me life.

Help & hand-holds would be lovely.

Hi,

I'm rachel and I run Hounds first Sighthound rescue. I just thought I would pop in and day well done to Hound for helping this girly. Sadly although lurchers and cats can get on very well, many are not cat safe so you have done the right thing.

Mabli will be moving into one of our foster homes tomorrow and we will look after her and her pups before homing them in the new year. The pups will be vaccinated and microchipped before rehoming and mum will be vaccinated microchipped and spayed. They will also get lots of love and have the very best start to life.

We are doing a bit of fundraising to raise money for the cost of rearing the pups. The last litter cost us over £1800 to rear as we make sure things are done properly.

If anyone would like to donate you can do so here; www.justgiving.com/mabli

I will keep you all updated and we will stay in close contact with Hound... I know she would like to adopt a pup too.

That's brilliant, thanks so much Rachel, I'm so pleased she's going to such capable and caring hands, I gave Spicy the details of the surgery and I said I'll call them in the morning to expect someone from your organisation.

I'll also put a link to your Just Giving page on my FB as lots of people there were rooting for her, I've got your number so I'll call first thing after speaking to the vet.

Thanks so much again, you all do a brilliant job and she's going to the right place for the best outcome for her.

and I'll speak to you in the morning.

Ain't MumsNet grand?

Argh! Just saw the mum on hounds first fb book page and recognised her from the early posts in this thread! Well done hound and Rachel

Yaaay for Hound

Ahhh, just like Lizard I recognised Mabli from her hounds first FB photo, hounds first really are an excellent rescue and I'm sure everyone can follow Mabil and her pups progress here www.houndsfirst.co.uk/

You've done an amazing job, Hound.
I've donated to the JustGiving page, Rachel. Can we please still get pupdates for Mabli?

Sorry to hear that the lurcher isn't good with cats.

You did right thing.

Hounds - hope your leg is ok. When we adopted big fluffy, I has to separate him from old lady cat (who had sneaked into the same room as him, only 12 hrs after we had got him from the RSPCA). He went for my leg, taking a chunk out.

Within a few hours infection set in. I had to go to minor injuries unit. They x-rayed in case the bone was chipped - it wasn't, then I was on antibiotics for a week. My ankle swelled to twice it's size, and a had to have a few days off work. So keep your eye on your leg for anything untoward.

Hope all goes well with Mabli.

Have lurked through the whole thread, well done Hound for looking after Mabli, I have sent something from her wish list to hounds first.

Morning, well have spoken to the vet & to Rachel & Mabli's off to her VERY experienced foster carer this evening, no pups yet, Rachel thinks she'll probably wait a few days to have them now when she's settled as if they were going to come, the stress last night would have started her off, so she'll hopefully have a couple of days getting used to her new surroundings and getting nice and comfy before she pops.

Thanks so much to all those that have donated through her just giving page, I belive she also has an Amazon wishlist that can be found on the Hounds First FB page (she's quite the celebrity this little dog).

I actually think she did a rather clever thing going for the cat, as she could no doubt sense the waves on incompetence emanating from me and decided to take action to get herself better placed.

DCs are fine, thanks to the poster who asked, DD was initially very upset about the dog going but she loves the cats and I had a chat with her and she understands it wasn't fair on Mabs or them for her to stay. She asked if we can print out a picture and put it in a frame in her room, which we're going to do, and of course we can follow the pups' progress and hopefully rehome one when the time come. So she seemed pretty happy with that outcome.

Gah posted too soon, and yes SoAccident (appropriate nn there), I'll be taking muself off to the GP's later as it's looking rather angry where the cat got me so probably get some antibiotics for it.

Rachel said she'd keep on co tact and let me know what was happening so no doubt one of us will be back before too long with some actual pupper news - yay.

And for all those who said what a good job I did, I did bugger all really, am quite humbled by the number of people that have rallied round and got this girl the help she needs and who have donated to her.

I grumble a lot about the internet but it is a wonderful thing when used for good, so THANKS again good folks of MN and Hounds first and everyone else who's contributed, Mab's really fallen on her feet and I'm confident she's going to have a brilliant life from now on.

This is brilliant news-so pleased. You took her in and have started her life afresh now. That's more than a little something. :)

A big yes to the gp visit. I've been bitten by a cat while breaking up a cat/dog spat and it infected really fast. Cue antibiotics and tetanus jab!

Hound you did a lot - far more than most people would have and Mabli is in a safe place to have her pups because of you. You have given those pups the amazing gift of having a fantastic start to their lives and Mum the chance to live a better life from now on - that is a million miles from bugger all. An awful lot of people would have made a phonecall to the RSPCA when they saw her roaming free and left it at that.

Now get yourself to the GP's asap - cat bites and scratches can be really serious if not treated quickly.

Of course you did lots!!! You took her in. Anything could have happened to her if you hadn't. Thanks to you she was and still is warm and loved and given nourishment her body will need for the birth. You could have let her walk away. You didn't. Directly or indirectly you may well have saved her life and those of her puppies. Do not sell yourself short. All this is because of you!!!!

OP you underestimate the knock on effect you will have had on this wee dog and her pups.

many would have left her outside and hoped she wandered off. the thought of the mess and cost of having a litter birthed would be very off putting but you just took her right in and made her comfortable, helped her back to a good weight, got her medical care and now a foster home and hopefully permanent homes for her and her litter. you really have done the best thing possible for her and she is in a better place now than had you just left her where she was. she was so lucky to find you and her life will be vastly improved now. that is a great thing.

Wonderful to see Mabli is settled into her new foster home. Thanks Hounds for this thread and introducing me to Hounds First. They look like a fantastic organisation. Have donated. xxxxx

Don't put yourself down, you did a lovely thing x

Hound, you have given Mabli a wonderful opportunity of a new life. You are fantastic.

I have donated something from her wish list. Looking forward to the pupdate!

"Bugger all" indeed! You did a fabulous thing taking her in Hound, thanks to you she and her pups are and will be safe and looked after.

And thank you Rachel for coming on to keep us updated!

Brilliant news! I need to get paid before I can donate, but I am so glad to hear about the happy (ish) outcome. I hope OP's leg will be OK. Now for puppy pics...

Hope your leg is ok?