Ave Maria Lost Her Puppies And Is Now Fighting For Her Life

Ave Maria has already endured more heartbreak than any dog should have to experience. Now, after finally being given a second chance, she has found herself fighting for her life.

This sweet 5-year-old mama arrived at a large county shelter in Houston with her newborn puppies, who were only a few days old. Tragically, one by one, all of Ave Maria’s babies passed away in the shelter.

Newborn puppies have extremely vulnerable immune systems, leaving them especially susceptible to illness and infection. Sadly, this is a reality many young puppies face in large, overcrowded county shelters, where constant exposure to disease can be devastating for babies whose immune systems have barely had a chance to develop.

Ave Maria was left without a single one of her babies. She was sad and withdrawn, barely moving and not even interested in treats. After losing her entire litter, Ave Maria faced yet another devastating blow: she was placed on the shelter’s euthanasia list.

Thankfully, Strong Paws Rescue stepped in and saved her.

Once she was out of the shelter, Ave Maria began showing everyone the dog hiding beneath all that sadness. She became happier and more energetic, revealing herself to be an incredibly gentle, affectionate girl. After everything she had endured, it finally seemed like the worst was behind her.

Then, during what should have been a routine spay surgery, something went terribly wrong.

Ave Maria experienced significantly more bleeding than expected. Later that evening, her condition deteriorated. She struggled to stand, her gums became pale, and she was rushed for emergency veterinary care.

Her red blood cell levels continued to fall—from 34% to 28%, and then to just 23%. Veterinarians began considering a blood transfusion and emergency surgery to locate the source of the bleeding. There was a very real possibility that immediate intervention would be necessary to save her life.

Thankfully, Ave Maria’s body began to fight back. She was able to form a clot, the bleeding appeared to stop, and the blood began to be reabsorbed. Once she was stable enough, she was transferred for continued overnight hospitalization and close monitoring.

After losing every one of her newborn babies, surviving the euthanasia list, and now making it through a frightening medical crisis, Ave Maria is still here—and she is still fighting.

Her emergency care has also created a significant and unexpected expense for Strong Paws Rescue. Her initial emergency treatment totaled approximately $2,000, with another $1,000 estimated for overnight hospitalization and monitoring.

Strong Paws Rescue didn’t hesitate when Ave Maria needed them. Now, they need our help covering the lifesaving veterinary care that gave this deserving mama another chance.

Ave Maria has already experienced enough loss for a lifetime. Now it’s her turn to experience safety, love, and the future she fought so hard to have.