Shelter a place to find animal and human friends

Back in August I had to do one of the hardest things an adult has to do, put down my beloved cat of 16 years.

I was devastated but was ready to add to our family again. My daughter and I headed out to the animal shelter on Pinenut Road to get a kitten.

While we were there we went back to look at the dogs. Big mistake, big blessing. We not only left the shelter that day with a cat, not kitten, but a 6-year-old lab that they had named Peggy Sue which we now call Maizie.

The cat, which we named "Bug" for her bug eyes is always entertaining and Maizie is the most loving, well-behaved dog I have ever owned. How could someone abandon her? Now to my point. Maizie was overweight. I kept saying, do you think she's pregnant? I was told she was just fat and needed to be on a diet.

About three weeks after being with us her stomach looked distended. I took her to the vet on Centerville Lane at Animal Medical Services. They took Maizie to the back and when they came back Dr. Burns and Camille had big smiles on their faces. Maizie was pregnant with 13 puppies. We contacted the shelter, and Janet, Mike and everyone there were extremely supportive. I decided this would be a wonderful opportunity for my daughter and I to experience. Maizie started delivering at 7:15 p.m. Sept. 29.

I could not have done it with out the help of my beautiful daughter and my amazing friends Sue and Becky. They stayed with us all night until the 13th puppy was born at 8 the next morning. With amazing caring and constant help from Sue and Becky all but one puppy survived. I had these puppies for eight weeks, I can tell you it was harder than I thought it would be.

I was able to find homes for all of the puppies and the shelter provided adoptions for any one that wanted to go that route. Thank you to all the wonderful friends and friends of friends that took these puppies.

I still have one we named Roll-E and it is amazing to watch mom and son play together. I want to thank the shelter for everything they did for us. From food, blankets, towels to checking on us weekly to see how it was going. They then paid for Maizie's spaying. Which is where I get to thank the amazing doctors and staff at Animal Medical Services.

Maizie was spayed last week. While in there they found she had a huge mass on one of her ovaries. Can you imagine how many pups she might have had if they both were working? Anyway, the doctor took out the mass and sent it to the lab on their own dime.

They also ran a thyroid test and removed two growths from her neck, again on their dime. These people care so much for animals it makes you feel confident every time you walk through their doors. I cannot thank AMS, the shelter and my friends Sue and Becky enough for all their help. Maizie and Bug have quickly wiggled into our hearts and I will forever be grateful to the Shelter for finding them for us.

Shelley Alexander is a Gardnerville resident.