|
It’s funny how people have preconceived notions, and feel the need to vent their ‘upset’ with others. Such is the story of one lady who wrote me last night. She felt a need to tell me what sub-humans we were for keeping Gabby in her whelping box the last week of her pregnancy, without benefit of being able to play with the other dogs or us, and she observed our tussle on the camera trying to keep Gabby where she didn’t want to be just one hour after her surgery. She noted that we weren’t constantly touching Gabby. After all, rather than let her rest, and settle in with her babies, we were supposed to be in the box, constantly stimulating her to let her know how loved she is. Yes, evidently, we are supposed to be keeping her awake with constant stroking. Boy, did that note make me mad. And then I got this note from a lady who has no idea how much her note was appreciated. She said : “I have watched Gabby all week sleeping and getting ready for the birth of her puppies. She looked like I felt the last weeks of my own pregnancy. Then tonight I watched you trying to settle them all in, constantly checking her incision, and cleaning the towels under her rump so she wouldn’t have to lay in a mess. I watched you bottle feed the puppies after it looked like you tried to get milk from her nipples, taking her temperature, and cleaning the puppies bottoms. You were in and out of her area like the nurses who took care of me in the hospital were. They were in and out in a flash, flipping me and my baby around with skilled hands to do what was necessary, and then left me to continue to count fingers and toes. I am amazed to watch your camera and see this dog get the same sort of care that I got when I had my baby. She is sleeping now, and I was transfixed on the camera. She isn’t even aware of the care you are giving her. Thank you for putting up the camera. I found myself wondering how I would ever sleep, and then you turned the camera off. You must be going to bed, so I will check on them tomorrow. Thank you again, Kristi” No, thank YOU, Kristi. I really needed your note. No bed for me. Not tonight. It is almost 4am. I took the first night up with Gabby following her c-section. Dan gets tomorrow night. … And so it goes until we’re sure she and the puppies will be okay without constant observation. Gabby isn’t really appreciating motherhood right now. You see, a c-section without labor, doesn’t let the normal hormone changes occur, that make a mother feel like a mother. (progesterone declines during the last days of pregnancy - estrogen increases just before birth - prolactin increases just before birth). These are the hormones of motherhood, and without the perfect balance, these puppies may as well belong to another dog as far as Gabby is concerned. She can’t figure out why she is saddled with them, and would like very much to get away from them. So, until that magical switch is flipped, she must be forced to do what nature is telling her she shouldn’t be doing. In one to two days, she’ll be fighting to get in with them instead of away from them, and the fight will be in reverse… we’ll have to force her out! Perception is an interesting thing. One person perceives cruelty, one person perceives care, and Gabby perceives some strange little creatures were forced on her. A moment ago, I saw her dare to lick one of them <smile>, so maybe tomorrow her perception will be completely different.
|
