Meet Gorda, a sweet, loving and very pregnant "galgo" from Spain. When we met her for the 2nd time, and saw she was in this condition, we decided to take action, and do something for her and her puppies.

The first time we met Gorda was when Grandma Carmen was visiting. We stopped by the kennel just to say hello. Noticing that she was in heat, we asked the manager to please seperate her. He didn't on the basis that there just wasn't enough room. I disagree.

So, when we met her again, and Mitch recognized her by a "funny" nipple (she had obviously been a mother before), we were quite upset to see that she was now in a terrible state, emaciated and pregnant. In the picture above, notice that you can see bones jutting through her skin.

We decided to bring her home. A stool sample to the vet proved what we already knew; she had tape worm, two varieties of hook worm, and coccidea was likely. We wormed her and our dogs immediately. But, worming right before pregnancy is too little too late. It wouldn't help her gain the weight that worms and malnourishment had deprived her of. She would have to give birth to her puppies in her present condition, and we had to do the best we could for her, and hope for the best.

Gorda only wants affection. Even with a belly heavily laden with puppies, she ran after us to be petted. She instantly trusted us, and began preparing to give birth.

Every bit of spare energy went to nourish the babies. They ate all of her vitamins, nutrients and body fat; she gave her health to them. Here she is preparing for birth. But, as large as she was, she still had four more days.

Gorda had a long and difficult delivery lasting most of a day. In the end, she "whelped" (gave birth to) 13 puppies, one of which died the first day, another followed the next. In this picture, there are 11 puppies.

Mother Nature at her best, puppies instinctively know where to get the good stuff. Incredible sucking action produces a tight seal, keeping the puppies from swallowing air, and nourishing them with mama's milk.

Two smaller puppies, the one on the right is the surviving runt. I supplement her milk a few times a day, because she has less time at the nipple than her littermates--all of which are nearly three times her size.

Visit the Greyhound Protection League to learn about the plight of Greyhounds in the United States.