KINGSVILLE TOWNSHIP — It wasn’t the first time someone named Mary needed shelter at Christmastime for herself and her baby.
The unique story of Mary, the pregnant German shepherd, so touched an Ashtabula County Animal Protective League board member that she felt compelled to travel hundreds of miles during the holiday to rescue the mother and her 10 tiny pups.
The story started with a quick post on the social networking Web site www.twitter.com when Irene “Doc” Fiala saw that a pregnant dog was on a Kentucky animal shelter’s kill list.
“The shelter was already past capacity, and Mary was very, very pregnant. If she were euthanized before the puppies were born, the shelter wouldn’t have the added cost of the puppies’ care. She was slated for euthanasia on Saturday,” Fiala said.
While the APL’s inn was full, the Pets Alive shelter in New York said it would take in Mary and her puppies but only if she or they could find a ride.
“I just figured that my schedule magically cleared for the night, so I should be the one to drive Mary from Ashtabula to New York,” Fiala said. “It seemed too perfect and too right.”
But Mary’s puppies just couldn’t wait for Christmas to arrive. On the drive from Kentucky to Ashtabula for a short layover before heading to New York, Mary went into labor.
“Thursday night those puppies came — 10 of them — and everyone at the APL agreed that day-old puppies just can’t make that sort of trip safely,” Fiala said.
Now in foster care until the puppies are old enough for adoption in six to eight weeks, Mary and her litter will stay in Ashtabula County after all, Fiala said, though some of them eventually may make the trip to the no-kill New York shelter for possible adoption.
APL board president Diane Carr said the APL will shoulder the cost of Mary and the puppies’ care.
“This is what it is all about: What can we do for the animals,” she said. “This is our Christmas story!”
The shelter is accepting donations toward the puppies’ care and spaying and neutering, Carr said. The APL shelter, located on Green Road, is open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every day but Wednesday. For more information, call the shelter (440 224-1222) or visit www.petfinder.com to see the list of other pets presently available for adoption.
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WARREN DILLAWAY
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Mary the German shepherd finds help, shelter at APL for Christmas
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