You never know when life will call you to unexpected duty. For my family, that call came in the form of a desperate pregnant dog at our front gate one evening. Her frantic pacing and heavy panting suggested she was in early labor – right around that 63-day mark when most dogs give birth.
Having no experience with animal birth, we scrambled to research what to do. We learned to watch for key signs: temperature drops, loss of appetite, and that characteristic nesting behavior. We set up a cardboard box with old blankets in our quietest room, trying to create a safe den-like environment. When her water broke, we timed contractions and kept emergency vet numbers handy.
The actual delivery was messy, miraculous, and profoundly moving. Each squirming puppy’s arrival felt like a small miracle. The mother’s exhausted but proud expression after the last pup was born will stay with me forever. In helping this stray through her labor, we didn’t just assist with a birth – we witnessed the incredible resilience and love of motherhood in its purest form.
