A white Pit Bull mix was found limping down a street outside Atlanta. She was pregnant, but unfortunately seemed very weak probably because she didn’t have a good meal for a long time. She was immediately taken to a vet. The veterinary staff confirmed her bad health condition, pointing out that her teeth were filed down and this wasn’t her first pregnancy. They also found an old gunshot wound, which added to her past sufferings.
The dog was named Kiah, which means “new beginning,” hoping that this truly is a better and new beginning for her. Then the Cherokee County Humane Society took Kiah into their care. Seeing the bad health condition Kiah was in, they immediately sent her to an emergency veterinarian. The vet found out that Kiah’s unborn puppies had already died several days ago. There was nothing they could do about the puppies now, but Kiah had to undertake a c-section urgently in order to save her life.
The surgery saved her life and healed her physical injuries, but her emotional wounds were far from being healed. Kiah refused to eat or drink, which meant that she was suffering from great emotional pain and was depressed.
After spending some time healing from the surgery, they moved her to a foster home. Her foster, Caroline Claffey, welcomed Kiah and made sure that she had everything she needed in order to heal and overcome her emotional state. She had regular meals, a soft bed to sleep in and a caring person to soothe her. Although her physical needs were met, she was still suffering from depression and mourning the loss of her puppies.
In order to ease her pain, Claffey came up with an idea: she put stuffed animals in Kiah’s bed, hoping that they would somehow fill the hole her lost puppies had left. Her idea worked and Kiah soon became attached to the toys.
“Her favorite stuffed animal is a puppy that vibrates and hums lullabies,” Claffey told the Global News.
“The vibration makes it feel more real to her.”
Surely the toys won’t replace her lost puppies, but at least they are comforting Kiah and easing her pain. Her foster family hopes that Kiah will soon find a forever home, with people that will help her recover from depression and be healthy and happy again.
Update: Kiah found a new home!
Hope For Paws Colorado sent Kiah from Georgia to Colorado, where her new home and family is. Her new mom drove all the way from Southern California, thrilled to meet her new baby and ready to give Kiah everything she needs.
