In early December 2014, the Central California SPCA received a call regarding an aggressive pit bull charging pedestrians within the City of Fresno. When Animal Control Officer Claire Longley arrived, she realized that this poor emaciated dog had a litter of puppies in an abandoned car that she was trying to protect. Once she was loaded into the truck and the babies placed with her, she calmed right down, her family was safe.
Back at the CCSPCA Animal Center she was checked for a microchip and none was found. So, she was placed in a kennel with her babies, given a warm blanket, food and water, and the wait for her owner began.
During her stay she quickly became a favorite of the staff, especially Officer Longley, who would visit her every time she came in. Most stray animals without ID are held for a minimum of 4 days to give the owners a chance to reclaim them. After that time, they can be placed up for adoption.
However, mommies and their babies cannot go up for adoption. A foster family or a rescue would have to be found. Newborn babies don’t survive in a kennel environment. Once the mom’s immunities, passed on through her milk, wear off, they are left exposed to any disease that may come in with another dog. The puppies can get sick, as they are too young to vaccinate.
Once it was clear that nobody was looking for this dog, the search for a foster home or rescue began. Phone calls and emails were sent out with no luck in finding a place for her. Time was running out as the puppies were reaching the 10-day old mark and mom’s immunities were going to start slowing down.
Then on December 12, as Officer Longley shared the status of the dog and her pups with our dispatch team, our dispatch manager, Dawn Dixon, couldn’t resist the urge to fill the “hole in her own heart” left by the recent passing of her beloved older pit bull and give this pit bull mom and her pups a second chance at life. Needless to say, the poor nameless mommy was given a name.. a place for “Destiny” had been found.
For weekly updates on Destiny and her pups, follow us on Facebook!
If you would like to open your home and heart for a pet in need such as Destiny, please contact the Foster Care Department at foster@ccspca or 559-233-7722 ext 127. Loving foster families are always needed.
Written by: Dawn