71 replies to this topic

[Jana's Mumma]

Congratumalations Kip!!!!! I'm sure your little babies are beautiful!!! Take time to thank your midwife

Aerie; I want one! Only prob is I'm in Australia.........and my mum would slay me if i came home with another pup, she thinks one is enough trouble!

Again, Congratulations!
Give all of the pups kisses from me,
Naomi

[prosperia]

updates??
Is everything ok?

[juliepoudrier]

Originally posted by Belle & Pegasus:
Congrats to you and Kip! I want to ask you if this is your first litter you had of border collies? I think its great that she had puppy's! It's a great expience for everyone!

Belle,
Kip is a rescue who arrived in rescue pregnant. Aerie did not plan this breeding, but Kip was in way too poor condition to spay her when Aerie got her, hence the arrival of puppies. I believe Aerie has said that the sire is known, but it was not a planned breeding. Kip is lucky to have survived the pregnancy and whelping the puppies. Probably her success at both is directly related to the great care she has recieved from her "midwife." So although having live puppies and a surviving dam under the circumstances which these were conceived (including the extremely poor condition of the dam) is something to be celebrated (and I'm sure it was certainly a learning experience for Aerie, who was kind enough to take this dog in), I wouldn't go so far as to say in this case that having puppies was a "great experience for everyone."

Sorry to sound like a wet blanket, but the last thing we need is to encourage the type of breeding that took place in Kip's case, even though we do celebrate Aerie's success at bringing Kip to a point where she could have healthy puppies and survive the process.

Way to go and thank you Aerie for doing so much for Kip and now her pups!

J.

[kelpiegirl]

Regarding the pups, who were unplanned, and are/will be quite an undertaking:

I think if everything turns out okay, the best thing to say would be "PHEW, glad we made it through that!"

Kippy deserves one HECK of a home, and those pups are VERY fortunate to be in this world.

Thanks Aerie, you are the best.

Julie

[Aerie]

Sorry to keep everyone is suspense, but a lot has happened since yesterday. The vet came over right after my last post. Kip was much weaker than she should be - the puppies, though, were fine. He told me to keep an eye on her.

She drank, she ate, she walked around - nursed the babies and seemed to be getting a bit more pep. About 10p.m. last night she started shivering and bleeding a little. I called the vet immediately and he told me to bring her and the puppies in. By the time we got to the vet (only 10 mins later, if that long) she was very lethargic and didn't want to even lift her head.

She stopped bleeding, we got her on an IV, and she seemed to be stabilizing. She continued to mother the puppies as best she could...we kept them with her the whole time to keep her stress levels down. I left at 1. About 5 a.m. I got a call saying to come back. I held her for a while and she finally just closed her eyes and stopped breathing.

She didn't die from blood loss, she didn't have a seizure...I honestly think she was just tired, deep into her soul TIRED and simply gave up after giving everything she had. Kip was the type of dog that anyone and everyone could fall in love with, she was sweet, determined to please, and willing to give every bit of herself without a second thought - she didn't deserve the treatment she had to endure.

Now, because someone was irresponsible enough to breed a sick, abused, starving dog, she has had to pay with her life. Five puppies are now orphaned. This is prime example of what ignorance, stupidity, and plain meanness can do. I pity the people who didn't understand what a truly great dog Kip was and treated her like so much trash.

My sweet girl was with us for only a short while. But long enough to, I hope, know and understand that not everyone is horrible and that she was for the time she was here loved unconditionally.

And now, I have to go bottle feed these angels that Kippy entrusted to me. Pics of the pups will be in the gallery.

Rest in peace, sweet Kip.

[Lucy Goosey]

Oh my God! I'm so sorry. Run free, Kippy.

[INU]

I am so sorry. I don't know what to say... I am choked up right now.

I was re-reading your other post about Kip's past. What a life she had.

I've recently begun fostering (we aren't sure yet if we'll be her forever home) a little girl BC that has been through a bit of an ordeal. She was born and raised on a working farm in Mississippi. From what I understand she'll work all day and give her best and is really just a great/useful working dog. Without her, her 80 year old farmer/owner wouldn't have been able to keep his farm as long as he did. He finally sold off his last cattle and died a year later. Kip and three others were left "homeless" in a sense. (Long story, there..the man left them to his daughter, but she's since become physically unable to care for even herself.) The son ended up with the dogs, then another couple, and finally she was "stolen" by another person. Lots of legalities and nonsense later, she's been released free and clear. House1(son) and House2(first couple) basically starved the poor girl. House1 just didn't bother feeding her, and House2 fed her nothing but the grain they give their cattle. House2 said she wouldn't leave their cows alone, chained her, etc etc etc...usual stupid abuse story. House3(second couple) stole the dog off the chain. They took her to the vet and were honestly giving it a shot but...eh. Apparently at some point during the last week, their working dog (BC) introduced himself to Kip in a rather friendly way. I wasn't informed of this part till today, but...I'll just not say mean things about people.

[2 Devils]

Thank you for taking the responsibility to help care for Kip and now her pups. I am sure they will be well cared for while you have them.

Sorry for the loss of Kip. She is running free and no longer suffering.

[nancy in AZ]

Oh Aeire, that's just dreadful. Words just can't express... I have so much admiration for your herculean efforts and your desire to help this little girl. I can only hope that your despair and anger will be mitigated by the joy of seeing her pups thrive.

[Nik]

Oh Aerie...I truly am sorry that Kip lost her precious life. It's not any consolation, I know, but look at the gifts she entrusted you with. At least she left you a part of her behind.
She was loved by you and knew it. I'm so very truly sorry!

[Deanna in OR]

Aerie, I am so sorry. I've just been catching up on Kip's birth process and then got to this post. At least she went to the bridge knowing she was loved at the end.

I wish you the best looking after the orphan pups. Even with a healthy mother, puppies are a huge amount of work for responsible owners. I'm sure her sweet soul will come through in her puppies.

Deanna in OR

[books]

I'm so sorry to hear about Kip. You have a lot of work ahead of you, but I'm sure you'll be a wonderful foster mom. Have you considered keeping a diary. I think it would be wonderful to be able to show people what can happen when dogs are bred and what can go wrong.

[CollieKat]

I am so sad to read this. I'm sitting here and the screen is blurry because the tears are rolling down my cheeks . I am so so sorry that Kip was brought into the world with such a horrid start. You gave her the best life she could have known and I am sure a little piece of her will live on in each othe puppies. *hugs to you*

[Susan M. & Skipper, Annie and Ben]

Aerie, I'm so sorry. I was keeping my fingers and toes crossed for little Kip and sending prayers for her to have a long and happy life, loved as she should have been all along. She was lucky to have you for the time she did. Sending you hugs and best wishes and hope for the little pups.

[BigD]

Oh how horrible!

Good luck with those little ones, I sure hope they can make it.

Denise

[Carson Crazies]

I am so very sorry (and sad) to hear that. You are an angel, Aerie. I'm glad Kip had a chance to be with you. Tears and prayers here.

[Barb Scott]

My thoughts, prayers and tears are with you. I am so sorry.
Barb S

[Maralynn]

I'm so sorry to hear about dear Kip.

Aerie, you are a very wonderful person. I know that Kip once again felt loved and appreciated during her time with you.

[juliepoudrier]

Bless you Aerie and bless poor little Kip's heart. I guess she gave every bit of reserve she had to those pups and didn't have the strength to go on. It didn't have to be this way for Kip, but for the callousness of humans. At least she had a loving home and knew your kindness for these last couple of months. Good luck with the pups--this whole story just makes me so sad.

J.

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

I've been offline pretty much the last week and just got to this. I'm simply horrified and shocked for your loss.

You've got a tough row to hoe ahead of you with six orphans - God speed and you know we'll do whatever is possible to help.