MEET DUDLEY!

When Pattycakes, my female Scottie gave birth to a litter of 6 puppies, I was shocked to find one tiny baby cast aside as if for dead!

I called the vet who advised me to bring the entire litter right in. Now this was during a blizzard in New Hampshire. The doctor cautioned me to keep them very warm or they would die. I carefully placed each puppy in a line around my waist inside my overalls and flannel shirt. It made me walk funny but kept the babies toastie warm.

Upon arrival at the vet hospital the puppies were placed atop a heated pad. The vet immediately picked up the tiny one, wiping the mucous from his nose and mouth. Then he dipped him up and down until all of the sudden the puppy came to life! However, the doctor said I shouldn't expect him to live. He weighed only 4 oz and the other pups weighed about 12 oz.

He had no desire to drink milk from his mother so he was tube fed. A tiny tube the size of a small drinking straw was inserted into his mouth and down his throat. If misplaced it could puncture a lung and the puppy would die. I was petrified!!! Fortunately, my mother who just happened to be an obstetrics nurse was visiting. She had tube fed many human babies but never a tiny 4 oz Scottie. However, she was not afraid to step up to the challenge.

Needless to say, the Socttie survived thanks to my mother! He became my little shadow. Dudley seemed an appropriate name since he was small like Dudley Moore. He was very feisty and often had to be protected from his own aggression. He lived nearly 17 years. He is now in Doggie Heaven most likely giving some big dog a hard time!