That's incredible... I wish every community would support their shelters like that!!  WOW!

No kidding, Bethany!!!

Yes, wouldn't it be great to be "laid off"?

This brightens everyone's and I mean everyone's day, doesn't it?

That's GREAT! Thank-you for adopting one of those babies! once ratties steal your heart you will want more!! Please do come back with photos and updates! YAY for you and your new baby!! CongRATS!

I'm sorry I don't have advice...don't be nervous, you are their angel...bless you for taking them in! I can't wait to fast forward a few months and hear how they've blossomed

Julie

Kudos Michelle for opening your home (and heart ) to those poor babies!

Also....Connie (wordweaver) too!!

MB,( Mitzy's Mom) is also going to be fostering one or two of the  girls, so bet you ALL can put your heads together on any issues as they crop up!

In fact...it would be great to see a Pup Mill Support Group forum formed...since they are a unique psychological & physical situation. Be interesting to see how many similar traits/issues they share, and ideas as well as successes in their growth from everyone....just a thought.

I have all the faith in the world that Michelle will do an AWESOME job with these mommas.  She's a great fostermom and has a lot of experience with puppies! 

Where did the edit feature go????

What I said and it disappeared...was that Connie (New Rat) has Dodge a PMill dog and probably has great ideas as well as Cheryl (wordweaver) too!

Dunno where half that sentence disappeared to????

And WHY do we NOT have an edit feature anyway??????? (Scratching head)

Sorry for the delayed response - was gone all day.

Michelle, the best advice I can give you for the initial week or so is to let them be.  Don't try to push them at all, let them stay in their hideouts in the quietest part of the house where they can acclimate to household noises and activity but feel somewhat safe.  Avoid looking directly at them, and when you approach them, turn your body sideways.  You may have to spill them out of their crates to potty and eat.  I kept a slip lead on mine (can't do that with Mama of course) and when I got them out of the crates I grabbed the lead & took them outside.  My Dodge wouldn't budge so I kept pads & papers down for him.  Still do, although he will go outside now.  He also couldn't be crated so I kept him in an X-pen with newspapers, and put a sheet over the top so he could hide.  Everyone progressed in the second week. 

Speak softly.  These dogs are on sensory overload, and load noises scare the bejesus out of them.

I'd guess that the mom with the one pup will be extra nervous as she has to protect herself AND the baby.  Do you have an X-pen or huge cage that you can put her in so she won't need to leave the baby to potty & eat?

Yes, I've been worried about the moms who got rabies shots in mid-pregnancy.  Hopefully the pups weren't harmed but to be honest, I've been afraid to research it.

If you want to email me when you get the dogs, don't hesitate.  I'll help you all I can.  Those of us who have PM dogs already trade tips and share updates so I've got lots of useful info tucked away.

Good luck ~

Hey MB,

Yes, the Teddies are going to you!  Both great girls from what Sherri told me.  Lucky you, I have "B Fever" too & would have snatched them up but I've got to take more mill dogs.  Maybe we can swap when mine are ready to graduate to another foster home.    Fat chance, right?

AWWWW! MB IS getting the Teddy Gurls!!!! YAY! Have to drag them away from her I'll bet....

I saw pics of them...cuties of course! MB lucks out...as always!!!

I am so impressed with those who take in these damaged animals....help them feel safe again, and nurture them to confidence and security. So much work. BUT..it sounds so rewarding!

Kudos to all of you who open up your hearts and homes to these guys...

Hey all,

Not sure what route the doggies are taking down from NC into Georgia and Florida....that's being worked out now.  I imagine I'll intercept my 2 as they travel through Georgia on either I75 or I95....then the others will travel on into Florida to Connie and Janie. 

And Connie, how about I spoil those teddys rotten and then we'll trade? LOL  Seriously, you know I'll switch with you later on if you want to move one of the PM kids when they graduate, I need to learn to take care them, too. 

Cheryl and Di - I know ya'll just want to squeeze and pet all these dogs as they pass through your areas!

Durn right we do!!!!!