Siena

Siena gave birth to her seven puppies alone in a hot, run-down park in Houston. Surviving on trash when she could forage it, she grew thinner and thinner as she gave her all to nursing her new pups.

When the puppies were only two weeks old, someone came across them and brought the whole family to Harris County Pets. In amongst an overwhelming sea of over 500 dogs, Siena mothered her puppies, not daring to hope for anything more.

Soon after, we visited Harris County Pets. Our COO and Director of Training Tailer O'Neill had come up with the idea of a Pilot Puppy Program. Adopt a nursing mother with a great temperament and her litter for our training program. If we could nurture the puppies during their developmental stages, we might be able to train better without having to undo all the past traumas adult street dogs, even young ones, had suffered.

On Tailer's first trip, Siena impressed him in her evaluation. He'd found four adult dogs that day, shown below, plus he had a much smaller litter in mind, so he passed on her.

A week later, he came back.

"Touch their front paws," Tailer instructs like a football coach running drills. "Touch between each toe, touch their paw pads. Now pet them gently from their ears to the tips of their tails."

Some puppies snuggle closer, some fall asleep, some wag their tails, all gaze with wonder. At the loving person holding them. At the kittens, now senior staff having been here 6 months longer. At the big, bright room where they will encounter their future.

They can't see you, but we can. Thank you for being our co-pilot on our Pilot Puppy Program. We see clear skies, strong (wagging) tail winds and happy landings for everyone.

Our Renaissance continues.