By the time Pita, a heavily pregnant dog, was brought into a Los Angeles shelter, it was clear pretty quickly that she needed more than they were able to give her.
The shelter was already packed, and with Pita so close to having her puppies, she needed calm, comfort, and the kind of focused care that just wasn’t possible in such a crowded space.
Knowing they had to move fast, the shelter reached out to MaeDay Rescue, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles, and the team didn’t hesitate to step in and take over Pita’s care.
A Pregnant Pup In Need
When Natalie Garcia, founder of MaeDay Rescue, saw Pita for the first time, she was shocked at the size of her belly.
“She looked like she had swallowed a watermelon. It was insane. She could hardly walk. She was so uncomfortable,” Garcia told The Dodo.
To make sure Pita and her puppies were well cared for, Garcia took Pita to the vet for an ultrasound. The results were astounding. No one expected the small dog to be carrying so many puppies.
With the birth so close, Garcia knew Pita needed a calm, safe environment to rest.
MaeDay Rescue arranged for Pita to go to a loving foster home where she could settle in and wait for the big day.
The Birth Of The Puppies
Days later, Garcia received an urgent call from Pita’s foster mom.
“I was actually at dinner. The foster calls me like, ‘I think it’s happening. She’s digging. She’s licking herself,'” Garcia said.
She immediately left her dinner and rushed to Pita’s side.
Together, they stayed with Pita through the night, and by morning, she had delivered five healthy puppies: Baguette, Focaccia, Ciabatta, Loaf, and Rye.
The new family brought joy to everyone, but Garcia noticed something curious about the puppies’ fur. There was a mix of black and yellow, and that’s when Garcia realized who the father was: Bagel, a dog still at the shelter!
A Happy Reunion
Pita and Bagel had arrived at the shelter at the same time and had spent a lot of time together. It made sense that Bagel was the father of her puppies.
Although Bagel hadn’t been taken into rescue when Pita was, MaeDay Rescue made sure to bring him into a foster home so the family could be reunited.
“We were making so many jokes about him not helping, like where is he? He hasn’t even sent a card to say congrats on the babies,” Garcia laughed.
Bagel, like Pita, was initially shy and unsure around people. With patience and care, he eventually opened up and grew more comfortable.
Now, Pita and Bagel have found loving forever homes, and their puppies will soon be ready for adoption. This family’s journey, from an overcrowded shelter to safe and loving homes, shows how fate sometimes brings everythin