A mother dog and her nine puppies are cozy and safe thanks to the fast actions of a Virginia rescue.
According to WRIC, Richmond Animal Care and Control (RACC) seized an “incredibly pregnant” dog from a residence on Dec. 22, where the canine was stuck outside in a wet, wooden dog house without access to safe temperatures.
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“This dog was outside in the freezing cold in a wooden dog house full of water,” a RACC staff member shared in a Dec. 23 Facebook video about the pet’s rescue.
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It is illegal in Virginia to keep a pet dog outdoors without proper shelter in temperatures 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher or 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower or during a severe weather warning issued for the area by the National Weather Service, per Virginia’s Legislative Information System.
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After seizing the dog, RACC took the animal — named Mama Manolo by the agency — to one of its shelters before transferring the canine to Virginia Veterinary Centers (VVC) for overnight monitoring to ensure the pooch didn’t give birth alone.
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“She had NINE perfect puppies late on Christmas night and ended early this morning! 7 girls and 2 boys! We are grateful to our Officers for saving Manolo from the freezing temps and that these pups arrived in a warm and safe environment with our skilled team at VVC,” RACC announced on Facebook on Dec. 26, sharing a photo of the puppies napping with the news.
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RACC plans to put Mama Manolo and her puppies up for adoption in about eight weeks when the baby dogs are more independent and no longer nursing.