Maya, a four-year-old Pit Bull terrier, was pregnant when she came into the BC SPCA’s care through our animal protection work. She was immediately brought to a veterinary clinic where she would meet the foster who would change her life.
“I was working at the clinic when Maya came in,” says Mandi. “No BC SPCA fosters were available, so I volunteered to bring Maya home with me to have her puppies. We thought she was only going to have five or six,” she says. “She ended up giving birth to nine.”
Maya was an amazing mom but even the most attentive mom needs a break. “Maya loved nothing more than snoozing away on the couch in between feeding and cleaning her babies,” says Mandi. “She may have been napping, but she was always on alert,” says Mandi. “Ready to get up and take care of her puppies if they needed her.”
Mandi adds that when she would invite people to her home to help socialize the puppies, Maya would greet everyone with an enthusiastic doggy kiss. “She loved everyone who came to visit, children, adults, she was just so happy to meet people and show off her puppies,” says Mandi.
Maya was also a huge fan of Mandi’s two dogs, both BC SPCA alumni, Heidi, a retriever mix and Ava, a pit-bull terrier mix. “Maya bonded with Ava immediately because she will play and wrestle with her,” says Mandi. “She was so respectful,” she says. “Always gave the other dogs space if they needed it. She was just a joy to have in my home.”
The puppies thrived in Mandi and Maya’s care. “It was so lovely to watch them change over the weeks,” she says. “Seeing their eyes open and then start to use their legs and attempt to run around their pen. Each little achievement was a joy to see.”
The puppies were soon old enough to be adopted and each went to their forever home. But who would give Maya a home? “Maya was made available for adoption,” says Mandi. “It was so hard to let her go, but I already had two dogs and I had made a deal with myself that I would only foster her and her puppies until they were ready for their forever homes.”
Mandi brought Maya to the animal centre for an introduction and she was soon on her way with her new guardian. “It wasn’t easy watching her drive away,” says Mandi. “But I was happy she had found a forever home.” Then Mandi got the call that would change both of their lives.
“I was told that Maya and her guardian were not a match,” she says. “I went to get her to bring her back to what was supposed to be her foster home,” says Mandi. “She was so happy to see me and ran right to the car and jumped in the open door. I swore I wasn’t going to get another dog, but when Maya came back to me, I just could not let her go.”
Mandi adds, “Whatever Maya went through in her past, it isn’t keeping her from being the sweetest dog,” says Mandi. “We adore her.”
Update on Maya’s puppies!
All nine puppies are doing very well in their forever homes. Check out these photos!
Rusty, formerly Leo
“It was love at first sight,” says Kiara. “Rusty was standing up against the puppy gate and I was immediately drawn to him and his little wrinkly face.”
Kiara had been looking for a puppy for two-and-a-half years after her first dog passed away unexpectedly. “My heart picked him, and he picked me.”
The first week Rusty was in her home, Kiara slept on an air mattress in the living room to make sure he got outside for his midnight bathroom breaks and to make sure he was comfortable. “After that he just settled in and my home became our home,” she says.
Kiara adds that Rusty is a very independent puppy. “He enjoys naps by himself and exploring,” she says. “I can’t wait to take him to the lake this summer. He just loves to spend time in the sun.”
“Rusty has brought happiness back into my life,” she says. “When you lose a furry best friend a part of you goes with them. Having Rusty has refilled some of that hole. I am so lucky and honoured to call him mine and be his forever best friend.”
Goose, formerly Joseph
Keyana says that the first meeting with Goose was amazing. There were only four puppies left from the litter and when she sat down, Goose was the first puppy to come up to her and he never left her side. She immediately knew he was the one. She says that Goose settled in at home within the day. “He was so excited to have so many places to nap.”
Goose’s personality is super silly and loving. “He is always leaping from his couch to his bed and loves to sleep on his back,” says Keyana. “He absolutely loves cuddles and taking naps with mom.”
His new furry siblings, a 10-year-old Yorkie mix and a one-and-a-half-year-old cat took a little time to warm up to their new brother, but now the cat plays with Goose and Tobi, the Yorkie, cuddles with him every day!
“Goose has brought an incredible amount of love to our lives,” says Keyana. “He’s truly a one-of-a-kind pup and we couldn’t be happier!”
Dray, formerly Koal
Coty says that when their family first met Dray, they fell in love with him. “He was super quiet and very snuggly,” she says. “My two daughters picked him, after he picked them. He gravitated right to them.”
Dray settled into their home very quickly. “He loves all the other animals we have,” she says. “His best friends are two border collies named Fisher and Nirka and he loves to snuggle with our two cats Meanie and Minnie!” She adds he is super funny and smart – he can open doors in the house and likes to perch on the back of the couch like a cat!
Coty adds that his nickname is Pig, as he is super grunty when he gets excited. “He has definitely added to the happiness around our home, and we couldn’t imagine not having him be part of our journey.”
Lincoln
“Our son Marshall instantly fell in love with Lincoln,” says Kristy. “We kept his name as he responded to it, and it was a nice match with our kitten Lily. The two have been growing up together like brother and sister.”
Both pets have become a huge part of their life. “We got Lincoln out cross country skiing at Mount Washington five times this season. He loves the snow.” Kristy adds that he has also taken a trip out to Tofino and enjoyed long walks on the beach. “He loves other people, dogs and is incredibly smart with a huge desire to please his pack,” she says. “We couldn’t be happier and are forever grateful to the Parksville BC SPCA for the work they do.”
Sassy formerly Daisy
Gail was a foster mom to Sassy when she was seven-weeks-old, after she had been weaned from her mom, Maya. “Let me just say, she suits her new name,” she says. “She always likes to get the last word in.” Gail adds that Sassy loves people, other dogs, anything with two or four legs. “She is learning fast and for the most part has been a very good girl.”
Roscoe, Gail’s 13-year-old Siamese, is a BC SPCA alumni, and has mixed feelings about the new addition. “It took him a while to get used to having a puppy around, but at least he tolerates her,” she says. “They seem to be working it out.”
Gail adds that their life is so much fuller and richer with Sassy in it. “When I take her for walks it’s wonderful to meet new people around the neighborhood who also have dogs. It is only going to get better as she matures into an adult dog.”