On May 30th, Dr. Michael White, director of the Harris County Animal Shelter in Texas, tuned into the local news. He saw images from his own workplace on the television screen! It showed the entrance to the animal shelter, with its gate still locked for the night.
And then, another animal waited to be rescued– She was chained outside the shelter, found by reporter Janelle Bludau and the KHOU 11 News Team. The dog was shackled by a very long chain to the shelter’s fence. Even in her situation, the dog smiled and wagged her tail as she observed the news crew approaching.
Image/Story Full Source Credit: List Hernandez KPRC2 Facebook (Incredible work!) and KHOU11 News via Facebook Watch
“I was watching the local news and I saw Janelle [Bludau], the reporter, outside our facility at the gate out by the road,” White told The Dodo. “She was talking about this dog she found, who had been chained to our front gate when she came to the shelter that morning.”
Image/Story Full Source Credit: List Hernandez KPRC2 Facebook (Incredible work!) and KHOU11 News via Facebook Watch
Bludau reported that she would stay with the dog until someone came to open the shelter that morning, so that is when Dr. White leaped from his chair, quickly got dressed, and drove 45-minutes to work.
Dr. White welcomed Janelle, a two-year-old Lab mix, and observed that she was in decent condition considering everything she’d been through. She was identified as having a heartworm infection and flea infestation. In honor of Bludau for finding her, shelter workers decided to name the lovely dog Janelle. Here’s Janelle being led into the kennel after a ‘rough’ night chained to the fence.
A shelter employee came out to get the pup tied up outside the fence. She’s now one of so many who need a home. #KHOU11 pic.twitter.com/HJCaaz9rPr
— Janelle Bludau (@JanelleKHOU) May 30, 2018
Dr. White discovered something and had an X-ray to confirm it after further investigation– Janelle was expecting a baby. She’d have a large litter of 10 puppies! Her stomach was nearly dragged to the floor because she was carrying so many pups. Janelle was so far advanced that Dr. White knew she would deliver at any moment.
“I decided I wasn’t going to leave her there any longer, and I took her home,” White said.
Janelle’s arrival at the White home was evident. She attempted to climb up everyone’s lap to offer them lots of love, but with her size (and pregnancy) it was difficult. But you couldn’t blame her for trying.
Image/Story Full Source Credit: List Hernandez KPRC2 Facebook (Incredible work!) and KHOU11 News via Facebook Watch
Then, just a few days later, Janelle showed signs of distress. She stopped eating and started acting funny. Luckily, though, she ended up at the perfect foster home! Dr. White had delivered MANY litters. Janelle was certainly in good hands.
Her first contraction was around 9 pm but with all their experience, Dr. White and his wife had a feeling this was going to be a long process.
“My wife and I stayed up with her all night assisting in each delivery,” White said. “At 3:36 a.m., [puppy] number 10 was born, and we thought that was it, but number 11 was born at 6:05 a.m. It was a long night for me, my wife, and Janelle.”
“We were trying to tag team, but every time we would hear a noise, we were jumping up and looking in the pen,” White added. “So we may have gotten one hour of sleep each in increments that night.”
Janelle, the lab mix found tied 2the gate of the Harris Co Animal Shelter by r own @JanelleKHOU & @MikeBadaBing, had 11 healthy puppies this AM! Shelter Director, Dr. Michael White, is fostering the whole fam-another reminder of how crucial fosters are! Mom & pups doin great ❤️ pic.twitter.com/A4tcunGamN
Credit/Source: — Lisa Hernandez (@KPRC2Lisa)
Dr. White reports that Janelle is an excellent mother! She makes sure all the puppies have exactly what they need and keeps their ‘den’ nice and clean.
Image/Story Full Source Credit: List Hernandez KPRC2 Facebook (Incredible work!) and KHOU11 News via Facebook Watch
As soon as the puppies are weaned, all the dogs will be put up for adoption. Janelle will also be spayed. Thanks to a heroic reporter and a warm-hearted veterinarian, Janelle and her litter are doing great. As sad as it was to find Janelle shackled to a fence, she ended up exactly where she needed to be.
Here’s Janelle AND Janelle meeting outside the shelter for the first time in the video below!
Toledo, United States.
