In August 2000, I decided to breed my female Malinois because there were several people wanting a pup, including myself. To be sure Worship was healthy, I had the vet give a complete physical. I thought everything was great, decided to go ahead as planned, and bred her to a Titusville K-9 police dog. She was fed the best food, exercised daily and checked regularly by the vet. The girls at the vet teased me by saying I was paranoid and a worrywart. I was not completely ignorant about dog breeding as I had worked at a vet's office and helped a friend of mine deliver several litters of puppies.

Anyway, the time came for Worship to deliver; she was acting funny so I took her to the vet's office. The vet said she was a little dilated, but there were no contractions. He gave her a shot of oxytocin and one of calcium. He said if she didn't deliver by that night that we would do a Caesarean section. After a few hours, she began having the puppies. After she delivered eight healthy puppies, one of the girls from the vet's office (who wanted a puppy) came by to check on Worship and the pups. She gave Worship another shot of oxytocin to assist in expelling the afterbirth; she had two more puppies first.

I went to sleep about midnight since Worship and the puppies seemed fine. They were next to my bed so I could keep an eye on them. When I woke up at 3:00 a.m. to check on her she seemed a little weak. I called the girl from the vet's office; she said, "Worship's just tired, go back to sleep". I then woke up again at 5:00 a.m. and found Worship limp. By the time we arrived at the vet's she had passed away. I cried my guts out and thought I would die too. The girl I had gotten Worship from years ago had her cremated for me and she brought her to me in an urn. She sits on my dresser, where she will stay until I die, at which time our ashes will be scattered together.

The pups now needed me. I had to "make" these pups live since Worship had given her life for them. I dedicated the next eight weeks to "making" the pups live. There were a few close calls, but all the pups lived. At eight weeks, after being vet-checked and given shots, they all went to their new homes. I kept the two pups that had been a little sick during the first eight weeks.

Again, I thought things were going fine. I then took my two pups to the vet to be spayed. I received a phone call to come down to the vet's office. The vet told me the pups had a kidney infection and told me to give antibiotics for ten days. After ten days with no improvement, I took them to the University of Florida. I was told at the University, after they ran a few tests including an ultrasound, the pups had congenital kidney disease. I only had a short time with my pups. Praises lived another two weeks since she had the highest BUN blood count. Angel lived four more months. The rest of the pups were checked; they are ALL affected. Due to a death in their family, my neighbor had to return the male pup they had taken. Of course this was fine with me because I had a Worship pup again. But, at less then two-years old, they are all on an advanced kidney diet and are all ticking time bombs that could go off at anytime and die.

Angel

Breeding can be a wonderful experience, but can also be a horrible life-changing event. If I had it to do over, I would never have bred my girl. Of course, I cannot go back, but if my story stops just one person from carelessly breeding their dog, I will be thankful. I still cry often about losing my girl, and I will never be the same. In June 2001, I adopted a rescue Malinois, Tara. She helps me get through all the sadness I still experience.

Tara

I wish more people would get a rescue Mal and give an already-born dog a home, instead of bringing more pups into the world. Thank You for letting me tell my story; I hope it helps.

Sincerely,

Nancy Dolan