Introducing Emma's OLD family: her puppies!

Thanks to Emma's new adoptive family asking for them and some super sleuthing by another CARE volunteer, I'm finally able to post some adorable pictures of Emma's litter. Her babies were adopted out at the end of June at two months old (their age in the photos), so will be nearly full grown by now. She actually had six puppies: Two white blond (like the one on the far left), two with 'Rottie style' markings (pictured) and two the same reddish color as Emma.

I didn't get to spend much time with her puppies as I was trying to get on her good side and she didn't like anyone who messed with her babies. What stood out the most was that they had such different personalities (and sizes!). The smallest, a red female, was a little whackadoodle, always busy, very smart and clearly in charge... guess who I think ended up being most like Emma? My favorite was Jay, because he looked and acted like a tiny little Rottweiler. Big boned, big-headed, quiet, clumsy and a bit bewildered by his more active littermates. It really was like someone had chucked a Rottie pup into a litter of tiny terriers.

Jay: sweet, good-natured and a little confused about

how he ended up as a chihuahua/terrier.

All of the puppies shared the same love of Emma's to be held on their backs. Just like Emma can be running around playing one minute and then nodding off within five minutes of being held like a baby on her back, you could put a pup in your palm on his/her back and they'd just go limp. Jay was the funniest because he would get this totally blissed out look on his goofy face.

They were all adopted the first week they were available. Because I wasn't the foster home for the puppies, I don't know who they went to, but one of the other volunteers told me that Jay's adoptive family had retired to their vacation home in Mexico which sounds like a pretty good life for a dog (or human) to me.

This is Jan, who to me looks the most like Emma.

The smallest and smartest of the litter, she is clearly worried about what

the heck is happening to her as this photo is taken.

Of course, after being found in an abandoned garage with her six babies and doing her duty as Mama Dog, Emma is now spayed and looking forward to the rest of a long, happy life BEING the baby of the family. She has been such a delight to cuddle, train and love for the past six months, that while I wouldn't wish a cross-country move on anyone, I am grateful that I get to keep her for a few more weeks before her new family arrives. Who wouldn't want to wake up to this face?