Salem’s life was anything but easy.
Unlike many canines who enjoy the status of “favorite four-legged pet” in their families, this was not the case for her. Salem’s family left her high and dry after deciding they “didn’t want her anymore.”
She ended up with her owners’ neighbor in rural Mississippi, uncertain about what her next home would be.
Fortunately, a rescue stepped up…
The Shocking Truth
Wanting to give Salem only the best in life, the neighbor contacted Happy Tails Canine Rescue, an organization based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team eagerly embraced this abandoned pup, and it only took them a couple of days to realize how genuinely sweet she was.
Salem was the epitome of the perfect pet. She was sweet, gentle, and a true companion. That’s why when the rescue announced she was up for adoption on social media, the applications started pouring in.
The rescue waited until Salem was fully recovered to match her with the ideal family. Upon arrival, she was severely malnourished, had an injured foot, and parasites, which required a few weeks of treatment.
Eventually, Salem was adopted into an amazing family. She soon forgot all about her previous experiences and began a new chapter in her life.
Thanks to HTCR, all of her expenses were covered, including a spay treatment her new owners were about to subject her to. Then, a real shock came!
During her examination, the vet realized Salem was beyond the safe point for spaying. She was pregnant!
“When the vet went in to spay her, she found Salem was pregnant and due more than likely in a few days,” the rescue wrote on Facebook.
Her owners, as well as the rescue, were shocked to the core! Not only did they not know about Salem’s pregnancy, but this dog did not appear to have a large belly at all!
Then Comes Another Surprise
Salem’s case was truly surprising. Yet, her family was more than happy to help their new dog nurse her litter until the puppies were big enough to be adopted.
Just a few days later, Salem’s due date arrived. But then, another shocking surprise unfolded before their eyes. When the vet performed an X-ray to determine how many puppies she was expecting, they announced unbelievable news.
Salem had only ONE puppy on the way! That’s right. One giant puppy!
“We asked for an x ray to get a puppy count…Salem is pregnant with ONE puppy! One miracle puppy,” the rescue wrote.
This was a super rare case of a singleton puppy, something no one expected. Later, when her parents decided to do a DNA test to confirm Salem’s true breed, everything became clearer.
As it turned out, Salem was not the Aussie Shepherd – Border Collie mix they had suspected. She was 95% Great Pyrenees! Hence, the giant puppy!
Although singleton puppy syndrome usually comes with complications, Salem’s baby was perfectly healthy. Astrid, the chubby little pup, was ready to receive all the love from her mama and her new family!
For now, Salem and Astrid will remain together. The proud mama will nurse until her baby is strong enough to embark on new adventures.
“Both Salem and Astrid will be spayed and baby Astrid will be up for adoption in our rescue,” the rescue added.
And, who knows… maybe Salem has many more surprises in store for her family in the future. You can never be sure!