In early November a few years back, I was hanging out in the midst of my busy hospital treatment room. I remember feeling amazed by how much was going on all at once:
- On one treatment table a pregnant Chihuahua was experiencing difficulty with the birthing process and receiving care.
- On another table was a thirteen-year-old dog in a state of shock as a result of trauma.
- A third table an anesthetized kitty with a urinary tract blockage was being tended to.
Suddenly, things got even busier when one of the receptionists entered the treatment room with two stray Rottweilers in tow. 
Two brave Rottweilers
The woman who dropped these dogs off said she had found them in a local shopping center parking lot. Both Rotties were gorgeous and displayed wonderfully sweet dispositions. Their little stub-tailed hind ends wiggled frantically in response to our attention, but it soon became evident that these two girls weren’t alone. With their enormous round bellies, I quickly determined that both dogs were in the latter stages of pregnancy.
We hoped they had simply busted out of a nearby yard. Perhaps a gate had been left open. We envisioned an anxious family frantic to find their pregnant dogs. Our optimism quickly dissipated as we discovered no collars or identifying microchips. We contacted every local shelter, pound, and veterinary hospital, but found no one looking for two Rottweilers. Looking back, it seemed suspicious that the woman who dropped them off at our hospital happened to have a very large crate in the back of her truck.
I remember thinking how much I longed to know their real names. I also wondered if they were missing their favorite humans. Clearly, both dogs had been well socialized, cared for, and loved. Giving them up must have been a difficult decision. Were they simply victims of tough economic times? Perhaps the prospects of finding homes for so many non-purebred pups was daunting.
Two Rottweilers turn into Seventeen Rottweilers!
We turned one of our exam rooms into a large whelping pen. Within 24 hours, one of the pregnant girls, now named Mia (Mama Mia!) delivered 10 healthy pups. Some of them looked like “Mom.” Others revealed that “Dad” was something other than a Rottweiler. Mia was a natural mother, she licked and cleaned her pups — doing everything just right. She let complete strangers cut umbilical cords, inspect puppies, change bedding, and take her out for potty breaks while telling her what a perfect princess she was.
Mia and her 10 little sausages were fostered by Jill, a receptionist at my veterinary hospital. Jill ended up keeping Dodger, the runt of the litter. With a lot of hard work, she managed to find wonderful homes for Mia and the other nine pups all of whom were placed just in time for the winter holidays.
Candy, the other mama, found her way to Linda, a Rottweiler maven who works tirelessly doing Rottie rescue work. Candy delivered five pups while in Linda’s care. She and all of her puppies were placed in great homes.
Where are the Rottweilers now?
Jill managed to keep tabs on Mia and all but one of her puppies. As the adoptive families reported, they were all matches made in heaven! On the pup’s one-year birthday a reunion was held at a local dog park. The pups played while their humans sported grins from ear to ear! Although there were thirty or so dogs at the park that day, the siblings all preferred hanging out with one another. The little sausages all turned into massive dogs with weights varying from 80 to 110 pounds. And guess who the 110 pounder is! None other than Dodger, the original runt of the litter!
Fortunately, these two mothers found their way to a “birthing center” where they and their pups were well cared for. All of the dogs were placed in excellent homes, and brightened up the holidays for many loving families.
I hope this story puts a smile on your face and serves as a reminder to support your local animal rescue organizations. Happy holidays!
This story was selected for our series: “Heartwarming Stories for Your Holiday.”
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.