Community showers puppies with love and support

The Kitchener-Waterloo community has come together to help out a poor little pooch and her young pups.

A few weeks ago, after a four-year old dog named Panda arrived at the Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth, veterinarians discovered through an ultrasound that the mother-to-be was about to give birth to a dozen or more puppies.

In late April, Panda went into labour and delivered that litter of 14 cute pups — seven of each gender — after almost eight hours. Unfortunately, the smallest of the litter did not survive but the remaining pups have thrived since the birth.

“We are overjoyed with the arrival of these adorable puppies,” says the Humane Society’s local CEO, Kathrin Delutis in a news release. “As always, we are committed to providing them with the best possible care.”

However, a new batch of 13 hungry mouths is a big financial burden even for the Humane Society to take on all at once — so they created a special virtual puppy shower to raise funds for Panda and the pups.

“We have done it before where, in the springtime, we have asked people to gift items off of our wish list,” says Calla James, the Humane Society’s director of community engagement and outreach. “We haven’t necessarily seen a ton of puppies over the last two years so we’ve really been focused on kittens.”

The program is simply an online registry showing items that are needed to care for the puppies so early in their life as they remain in foster care until they are old enough for adoption.

That means the Puppy Shower for Panda will enable the Humane Society to obtain items like bottles, small weigh scales, milk replacement if needed, food, toys, blankets and other necessary items.

“We are a registered, standalone charity,” says James, noting the dependence on the community for such funds. “We don’t receive any level of government funding for our charitable programs and services (so) that’s why we do call out for people to purchase things off our wish list for supplies and we are also encouraging people to donate financially as well.”

She adds that although Panda’s abundant litter may be above the norm, it is not uncommon for the shelter to take in puppies as well as kittens — creating a high demand on resources at times.

As a result, the Humane Society is heartened by all the hearty help and response they have received from the community in regards to Panda and her brood — but more help is always welcome.

“Our community always really comes to our call whenever we put a call out there for supplies,” says James. “Always naturally within a few days, packages and items (are) dropped off at our door and in our reception so we can’t say thank you enough to those who have donated.”

For more information on the Puppy Shower or the Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth, visit: www.kwsphumane.ca