Fostering a puppy is an act of immense compassion.
Welcoming abandoned dogs into a home and helping them recover from past trauma is truly heroic.
Many of these dogs need a second chance, and foster parents make sure they get the time and care to heal.
This is the story of a dog who endured a lot, and who also brought along a surprise nobody anticipated.
A New Arrival
Kaitlin Devoto didn’t know much when she first agreed to foster a dog.
She said for the Dodo: I didn’t know the gender or age. The first time we knew what she looked like was when she arrived in Cincinnati when I picked her up.
At the New York pickup center, she spotted a beautiful red poodle. She noticed the dog might have been lactating but assumed it was from a previous litter.
She continued by saying: It’s not unusual to receive a puppy mill Momma who’s still lactating. When their puppies are weaned, moms are ‘no longer useful’.
The dog looked malnourished, but Devoto was ready with a nourishing plan. She brought her home right away.
A Tiny Nugget
Four days later, something unexpected woke Devoto.
She checked on the dog and was amazed to find a newborn puppy lying in the dog bed. The puppy had been born overnight without her noticing.
After checking for more pups and finding none, Devoto focused on making the mom and baby comfortable. She laid out soft blankets for both of them.
The new pup was a boy and, with his round little body, reminded her of a chicken nugget.
The woman said: He was very quickly named Chicky Nug. But I was stumped on a name for Momma that fit the same theme.
In the end, she named her Mickey D to match her baby’s playful name.
A Bright Future Lies Ahead
The little pup has grown a lot and is now full of energy. Devoto said: He loves to run around and do zoomies. And he’s very interested in biting toes and toys.
Mickey has also started enjoying toys, and her shy nature is slowly fading as she becomes more outgoing.
Devoto is still fostering both dogs, and they’re enjoying life in her care. They’ll soon move on to their forever homes through Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue in New York.
It’s unclear whether they’ve been adopted yet, but it’s hard to imagine anyone turning down such sweet pups.