Homeless No More: Meet Siena & Her 7 Puppies!

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.

"I can't quit thinking about that dog," he said. "She was one of the best evaluations I've ever done!" So we made room. Room at the training center, room with our staff and room in our hearts. Instead of a mom dog with 3 or 4 puppies, we were bringing mom plus 7. And mom was sick. Heartworm positive. But...the puppies tested heartworm free!

As Siena took her first steps the year of our beautiful "Muv's House of Luv" quarantine kennel and settled into her new suite for some "me time", she stretched luxuriously and it seemed she was smiling. She knew we had her babies and that she could finally rest.

The puppies have been here for 6 days. They each sleep in their own perfect little crate kept company by a warm toy dog with a "beating heart". Twice a day, Tailer runs tactile socialization sessions. Staff sits around the table, each with a puppy in their lap.

"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. You can help ensure every dog in our care receives the love, training and second chance they deserve.

Your gift today helps provide care, training and a second chance for Siena and her litter, right now.

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