Wink, Baby and Bell’s Story

Wink, Baby and Bell’s story is tragic. Their mother, another poor soul who had been abandoned, had been mistaken for a coyote and, subsequently, was shot and killed. A farmer, realizing that these pups could not survive by themselves brought them to Second Chance Animal Rescue. Right away we realized that these puppies were in serious distress: one could not use its back end and another had a constant twitch in its face. We immediately took them to the local vet, where it became clear they were suffering from the effects of distemper.

Distemper is a highly contagious, incurable and usually fatal viral disease that attacks the gastrointestinal, respiratory and central nervous system. Sadly, for these pups the damage was already permanent and there was nothing further we could do except to stop their suffering. The difficult decision was made to put them down. We gave them a name and a place in our hearts.

An inexpensive vaccine could have easily prevented the damage these poor pups had already suffered in their short lives. A puppy should receive its first vaccination at 6-8 weeks old depending on its health, followed by boosters. Until it has received its complete series of vaccinations, please use caution when taking your pet to places such as pet stores and dog parks. To protect adult dogs, please ensure your dog's vaccinations are up-to-date. Ask your veterinarian about a recommended vaccination program for your dog.

Wink, Baby and Bell are gone but not forgotten.