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Little Red Hen, the Miracle Mama

Wolf Trap Animal Rescue
Wolf Trap Animal Rescue

Meet Little Red Hen, the miracle mama who beat all the odds. She’s the last animal from our [Wolf Trap Animal Rescue] February 25th transport still waiting for a home… yet, her story is one of the most unforgettable we've ever seen.

In January, Little Red Hen was picked up by animal control and taken to a kill shelter in Mississippi. There, she gave birth to nine puppies on the cold cement floor. Tragically, four of them froze to death before help arrived.

When our rescue partners got to her, she was barely alive. Too weak to walk or eat, she had to be carried, using all her strength just to lift her head. They rushed her to the vet where the news was grim. 

The vet who saw her explained that she was septic, heartworm positive, suffering from severe endometritis and a retained placenta, eaten up with intestinal parasites, and had horrible bloodwork. He recommended an emergency blood transfusion, hysterectomy, and immediate separation from her barely 3 day old puppies. Not only were they talking about thousands of dollars and extreme physical and emotional distress, but removing her from her babies that young could’ve been a death sentence after all they had already endured. Even worse, this risky plan offered Red only a 25% chance of survival. He believed the most humane option might be euthanasia but as a last ditch attempt to save her, this might work. 

They reached out to Dr. Burton, partly to ask if they could spend the thousands it would cost, and partly to see if putting her through all this would be too cruel. Dr. Burton asked for copies of all her test results and after looking it over, she said, "Take her home, dewormer, put her on fluids and let her be with her babies. She’ll be fine in a few days” The team was skeptical to say the least but she’s never steered them wrong before, so they went with it. They took her back home and worked around the clock to get her well again. 

After days of fluids, medication, boiled chicken, and daily hand-fed hamburgers, Little Red finally began to gain some strength. By day 3 she started wagging her tail. Day 4 she no longer needed fluids because she was eating and drinking enough on her own. And by day 5 she happily went in and out the doggy door to potty anytime she needed to, tail wagging as she romped around the yard.

We have all watched a miracle unfold before our very eyes. This dog had 3 feet in the grave when we got her. There’s no doubt she would’ve died in that shelter. And while the vet’s advice wasn’t necessarily wrong, it was Dr. Burton’s compassion, confidence, and expertise that saved her.

All of Little Red Hen's puppies have long since been adopted and are living the wonderful life they deserve with their forever families. But Little Red is still patiently waiting for a home of her own and a family to love her. She is 7 years old, house broken, crate trained, and leash trained. She would do best in a quiet home since she is an older gal. She thrives with other dogs around her. She can be shy around men at first, but warms up completely in time. 

Little Red Hen has been through more than most ever will, and she’s come out the other side gentle, resilient, and full of love. All she needs now is someone to give her the forever home she’s waited so patiently for. If that could be you, please fill out an adoption application and meet & greet request today.

Shelter Medicine & Surgery, Specialty Trained

Wolf Trap Animal Rescue

Wolf Trap Veterinary Hospital

Little Red Hen rescued and comfy
Little Red Hen rescued and comfy

 
 
 
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