Pepper, Hit & Run Patient Needed An Emergency C-Section

This is Pepper a stray street born dog.

She suffered a terrible ordeal when a hit and run driver left her injured on the roadside with a broken leg and pelvis.

To make matters worse, Pepper was pregnant at the time.

A kind citizen discovered Pepper lying by the side of the road in distress and promptly called an ambulance, which rushed to her aid at full speed.

Realizing she was pregnant, they knew it was crucial to get her to a clinic as quickly as possible. We were uncertain whether her puppies would be born alive or not.

Pepper underwent an emergency C-section after an ultrasound revealed that some of her puppies had no heartbeat, while two still did.

It was crucial to deliver her pups as quickly as possible for the sake of both Pepper and her puppies.

The medical team worked diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of Pepper during the procedure, knowing the urgency of the situation. This swift action was necessary to give the surviving puppies the best chance at life and to protect Pepper's health.

An X-ray revealed that Pepper's leg was broken and her pelvis fractured.

This poor girl had endured so much, and during surgery, our vets were about to discover the extent of her plight.

During surgery our vets could pinpoint a timeline for Pepper which proved that she had been lying helpless & unable to move for at least two days.

My heart ached for her, can you imagine being heavily pregnant, in agony & unable to move. She must have been so afraid.

The first of Pepper’s babies was born, he needed a little help breathing but he was strong & healthy thank goodness. His brother on the other hand was not as responsive & we were told that he may not make it. “Lets get him through the next 24hrs” Dr V told me. After that he would have a better chance.

These two little ones had survived the trauma of the impact due to their position in the womb. All the other pups had borne the full force of the car hitting their mum & would have passed away immediately or shortly after.

Mother & puppies settled down for the night while we all had restless sleep wondering what the next day would bring for this precious little family.

We were overjoyed to discover that the first pup to be born, who we called Pippin had thrived overnight.

He was feeding well, an excellent sign, we could relax a little. But what of his brother who was not expected to make it?

We called Pippin’s brother Peanut & while he was not as strong as his brother Pippin he was just as loud & had a great suck reflex. This gave us a great deal of hope for him.

Our joy and relief was palpable as both pups, Pippin and Peanut, showed remarkable resilience and strength.

Pippin, with his unmistakable enthusiasm, wags his tail energetically while feeding, a clear sign of his healthy appetite and vigour.

Peanut, who initially worried everyone, was sporting a charmingly plump belly, having rapidly caught up with his brother. His swift recovery and growth were heartening.

Their mother, Pepper, embraced her role with admirable devotion, ensuring that both her little ones were well cared for and loved.

Her diligent mothering undoubtedly played a crucial role in her pups' thriving condition.

It was a beautiful testament to the power of nurturing and care, as the little family flourished together.

Pepper had surgery to repair her hip & broken leg.

We were criticised heavily on social media for sharing this very positive clip of Pepper’s healing journey.

Folks wanted to see her on a stretcher.

There are times when it is very important for orthopedic patients to be immobilised but this wasn’t one of them.

Pepper needed to move to heal.

Once Pepper had healed & the pups were deemed fit the family were discharged to the shelter project.

They were given comfortable private kennel where Pepper got on with the task of rearing her little ones.

Peanut was adopted fairly quickly & is thriving in his new home.

Pippin is still at the shelter with his mum hoping that one day someone will want to adopt him.

Mum Pepper bounced back from the terrible trauma she suffered & is healthy & happy once again.

She is at the shelter hoping she will be adopted one day by somebody with land for her to roam, who understands the unique needs of a street born dog who has suffered abuse