Community Corner

Surprise Puppies Shock Shelter Volunteers

Puppies to be adoptable in six weeks.

Around 7 p.m. on Nov. 30, the dog walker at the Tri-Boro Animal Welfare Butler shelter was doing his routine volunteer work when he noticed something suspicious about the cage Oatmeal, a one-year-old Coonhound, had been staying in for about a month. Suddenly, Oatmeal was not alone in her cage.

"He turned and looked and there was a puppy," said Patti Panico, a volunteer at the shelter. "There was Chip. We named him first."

Oatmeal had birthed her first puppy on her own, but shelter volunteers were unsure if Chip would be the only puppy born that night. So the volunteers got together and with the help of Panico's daughter, Suzanne Finelli of Butler, Chip was the first of five Coonhound pups-four males and one female-born.

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Finelli said Oatmeal was in labor for about five hours. She and the volunteers helped to stimulate the dog during her contractions until a puppy was born then wait to see if the contractions would start again.

A first assistant operating room nurse, Finelli had no experience with dog birthing before, but said she had seen a video of it once on television and with the help of the volunteers' smartphones, she was able to assist Oatmeal. Later that night, Finelli helped birth human twins at a hospital for work.

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Typically, it is fairly obvious when a dog is pregnant, especially with a litter of five. But volunteers were so surprised by the puppies because Oatmeal did not show at all. According to Panico, Oatmeal came to the shelter in October emaciated and appearing deprived of food.

Oatmeal also deceived the veterinarian during a routine check and skin test to be admitted to the shelter, Panico said.

"She's so skinny, I can't believe the vet didn't notice," she said.

Dog Manager Steve Serao said he was also surprised by the pregnancy.

"The dog came up to us quite thin. She was pretty much knocking on death's door," he said.

Oatmeal came to the shelter from South Carolina where she was abandoned by her owners, who Panico said had too many dogs to handle. Shelter volunteers had been trying to adopt Oatmeal out when the puppies were born, however, the shelter does not adopt out dogs before spaying them and Oatmeal was too ill to be spayed when she arrived at the shelter.

The volunteers were more than excited about the new additions. Serao said this was the first time in at least five years that puppies have been born at the shelter.

"We were all excited because it was a first," Panico said.

But with that excitement also comes the realization that there are now several more animals the volunteers must find homes for.

"It was an amazing experience. It was a once in a lifetime thing," said Finelli. "But I hope we don't have to do it again because there will be more shelter dogs."

Unfortunately, one puppy, M&M, did not survive. While Oatmeal was helping him relieve himself, Panico said, the puppy passed away. The other four, however, which were named after cookies (Peanut, Snickerdoodle, Chip and the female, Ginger), are healthy and doing well and should be ready to be adopted out within six weeks.

All the dogs, including Oatmeal, will be up-to-date on vaccinations by the time they are adopted out. Families taking the puppies home will also be able to bring them back to be spayed and neutered, Panico said.

If interested in a puppy, contact the Butler shelter of at 973-838-5555 . Adoption hours are Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. or by appointment at 12 Belleview Avenue. Those who wish can also make a donation to Oatmeal and the puppies by including "Oatmeal and the pups" in the note.


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