There is nothing quite as meaningful as choosing a shelter dog and bringing them into a loving home. Every adopter knows the feeling of walking past kennel after kennel, seeing hopeful eyes waiting for someone to choose them. That moment of connection changes two lives at once.
This was exactly the moment Haley Houghmaster experienced when she walked into a Memphis, Tennessee, shelter and met Salem, an Australian Shepherd and border collie mix.
Haley had planned on adopting only one dog. She completed the paperwork, brought Salem home, and began helping her adjust to her new environment.
But Salem’s arrival came with a surprise no one saw coming.
A Routine Appointment Brings Unexpected News
As part of settling Salem into her new life, Haley arranged the standard veterinary visits, including a spay appointment. Everything seemed straightforward until the procedure began.
During the surgery, the veterinary staff paused, realizing something completely unexpected. After making the first incision, they discovered that Salem was pregnant.
“Found out at spay appt [appointment] that my new rescue dog is pregnant with one puppy,” Haley wrote in a Reddit post, still shocked by the news.
Her vet explained the situation and discussed the risks with her. Since Salem was carrying only a single puppy, ending the pregnancy could cause complications. Following the advice she was given, Haley made the choice to allow the pregnancy to continue.
“We are very excited and praying for a healthy puppy and an uneventful delivery,” Houghmaster said.
Just one week later, Salem gave birth to one healthy puppy, adding an unexpected new member to the family.
From that moment forward, Haley and her family made sure both mother and baby had everything they needed, providing constant care, comfort, and affection.
Salem adjusted beautifully to motherhood, and her little one thrived under the family’s attention.
Understanding Singleton Pregnancies
What started as a simple adoption turned into a growing family and a meaningful bond between Haley, Salem, and the newborn pup.
Single-puppy pregnancies, also called singleton pregnancies, are uncommon. They can occur for different reasons, such as low ovulation, issues during fertilization, or specific genetic factors.
These pregnancies do carry certain risks. A single pup may grow larger than expected, which increases the chance of dystocia.
Labor can also be delayed because the body does not receive the normal hormonal signals triggered by multiple puppies.
In addition, singleton puppies sometimes need extra socialization because they do not have littermates to learn from during early development.
With proper veterinary guidance and additional support at home, both the mother and puppy can thrive, just as Salem and her baby have.