In the early hours of the morning of Saturday 28th March, a couple returning home saw a Border Collie walking along a lane in a very weak state, panting and disorientated.

They managed to carry the poor heavily pregnant female into their car and tried to find a local vet, but to no avail, so they took her back home with them and rang Holly Hedge in the morning, explaining that she was in labour and in a very poor way. They were told to take her straight to our vets where the poor little soul was found to be in a weak and collapsed state trying to bring her puppies into the world. She was not microchipped so the owner could not be contacted.

All the vet could do was perform an emergency Caesarian section under general anaesthetic in an attempt to save mum and puppies. It was discovered then that both her ovaries were badly infected. Heartbreakingly the poor mum didn't survive, but her 7 tiny babies were born alive, and whilst she still had breath in her body suckled her precious babies so they had a small amount of immunity from her colostrum. Everyone was too devastated for words. Two of the nurses kindly took the dear little mites home with them to bottle feed until the morning.

An urgent plea was put out on Facebook for a lactating female with very young pups or one with a phantom pregnancy, as hand rearing couldn't compare to the comfort of a mother, or in this case a surrogate mother and we had to try to give these dear little orphans the next best thing. The kindness and compassion of people is truly amazing, and two families came forward, both in the same area, and both with females with phantom pregnancies producing milk. Amongst the overwhelming sadness of it all there was a ray of light. As fate would have it we also had an experienced puppy hand rearer close by who was willing to give practical advice and any help needed with supplementing them. Andrea was a Godsend, she not only went to see the prospective foster carers and their surrogate doggy mummies beforehand, explaining everything it all entailed, but also collected the little mites from the vets and took them to meet their new families.

First port of call was Lottie, a Labrador who was desperate to 'mother' almost anything, and she willingly lay down allowing 5 of the little orphans to latch on to her teats, suckling for all they were worth. Andrea then took the remaining 2 to Coco, a Cockapoo, who was also longing to give a mother's love, and they also latched on, feeding happily. The human fosterers were shown how to bottle feed the little ones just in case there wasn't enough milk to go around.

Sadly 2 of Lottie's babies and 1 of Coco's started to fade the following morning almost at the same time and were rushed to the vet, but tragically didn't make it. It was touch and go with another 2 of Lottie's, but thankfully they were stronger and survived. So now both Lottie and Coco have 2 babies each, now all suckling well and thriving with their happy surrogate mummies and their human foster carers.

So many tears have been shed for those sadly lost, the three little new born mites and their dear birth mother who, although we never met her, broke our hearts into a thousand pieces because we so wanted to help her. Mum and 3 of her babies are now safely over the Rainbow Bridge together, where they will never again have a care in the world.

Thank you to the vets and nurses who did their very best, and to Andrea who willingly gave up so much of her time and expertise and was there for the foster carers and the dear little pups. The fantastic human carers, Jo and family, and Cariann and Lee, thank you so much for all the loving care bestowed upon them, day and night! As for the amazing furry surrogate mums who took the little orphans into their hearts and suckled and nurtured them as their own, how wonderful they are, giving these babies so much comfort and unconditional love. Over to Jo and Cariann for an update on their precious charges!

Jo and Lottie

On 27th March we volunteered to help with the plea from Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary, who were looking for a dog who was producing milk to become a loving surrogate mummy for the puppies who devastatingly lost theirs at birth.

I contacted Pauline and volunteered Lottie as I knew she would be perfect for the job, the little bundles of joy arrived the following day, thanks to Andrea. Sadly 2 of the puppies started to deteriorate, and though I took them to the vets as quickly as I could, sadly they passed away. The other puppies have come on leaps and bounds and truly are adorable, Lottie is an amazing mummy to them and continues to provide love, play and milk for them.

Holly Hedge have been amazing, especially Pauline who has told me I can ring night or day if I need to, after a tricky start we are very proud to be a part of the puppies journey towards their forever home, they will be truly missed when they find their forever home.

Cariann and Coco (written by Coco!)

Well this year in all my 4 years is working out to be the strangest yet, to begin with my hoomans were acting really weird, normally they leave me in peace through the day and I love it. I guard the house and keep it free of all things scary that try and invade it like things that fly through the door, cats that don't know how scary I am and then there's the birds, they think they are smarter and quicker than me so I have to show them all who's boss - they don't need to know I'm just a big softy and I just like to make a bit of noise. With the hoomans now they are just around all the time day after day what's that all about!?!

Well you will never believe this but I was given a new job! Yes at last!! So apparently I'm a mummy now and let me tell you I didn't feel a thing it was great!! Not how the hoomans describe it with all the pain and mess, but after all I'm very brave so I'm rolling with it. Apparently I'm a miracle as my body produces milk for the babies, yes there is no end to my talents! My hooman family do help me out with that and sometimes give them a bottle; it's tiring work having twins you know! I have so much to teach them and have to clean them all the time, keep them warm and safe is no walk in the park (I like those though), it's a good thing I'm getting extra treats let me tell you! As they keep telling me I'm doing good and I get extra cuddles and lovely walks!! Well I love to chat but I'm super busy you know, babies to feed! Woofs Coco xxxx

So far the vet bills for Angel and her puppies have amounted to £1,995, but we would have given anything to have been able to save them all. Holly Hedge always go above and beyond to save as many precious lives as we can, irrespective of cost. Please donate towards Angel and her babies vet bills, and other puppies like them. There are so many others needing to be saved, desperate for medical attention, and we cannot deny these dear souls the help they need to make them pain free and whole again.