HELP: Unexpected litter. What is the best way to find them a home?

Question

We came home today and found a litter of newborn puppies in our back yard. My sons female dog had them today. He is the one who feeds and waters her every day, so I never knew she was pregnant, especially since she has a very long, thick coat and didn't look pregnant. I never got her fixed (my mistake I know) and I was nieve to think that a stray couldn't get in our backyard, but one apparently did. Now I have 5 newborn puppies that I have to find homes for. What is the best way to go about this? Newspaper ad, signs around town, or what?

I don't want to just take them to a pound where they might be put to sleep. I want to find good homes for them. I learned my lesson from this and I am going to get the moma fixed as soon as they are weaned.

I'm in north Texas. These puppies are black and white. The moma is Border Collie/Australian Shepard mix. They are cuties, but I can't keep them.

eurostar9: Thanks for the lecture. As I already said, I know it was my mistake for not getting the mom fixed, and I am taking responsibility for it. There are alot of people where I live (out in the country) who would take an unwanted litter of puppies and kill them. I wouldn't ever do that. Give me a little credit for trying to find them good homes. Hind site is 20/20 and I know I should have gotten my sons dog fixed. I already said I am going to as soon as possible, but what is done is done.

How can someone determine from this post that I don't feed or water this dog? Like I already said, this is my sons dog, he feeds and waters her everyday. She has a long coat, she always has. She is a small size dog anyways, so no, she did not look pregnant to me. She only had 5 pups, so she didn't get obviously bigger. I didn't come on here asking for opinions on what type of dog owner I am. I already said that I made a mistake by not getting her fixed sooner. Other neighbors have had a problem with strays getting into their backyards, but like I said I was nieve to think that one wouldn't get into mine.

Answer 1

When they are about two and a half months old, have a party and each puppy will be a party favor. Seriously, the more kids see them, the more likely you are to find homes. Wait with them outside a petfood store or Wal-Mart. If they are cute and healthy, should be no problem.

Puppy breath is the sweetest smell in the world.

Answer 2

Well I wont criticize you for your dog following her instinct to reproduce, as I see it you done everything right by keeping the dog in a fenced yard. Yeah, were in agreement that you should have gotten her fixed but whats done is done. That breed would probably make a good herd dog... you can contact your local SPCA and let them know that you have the puppies but you are going to keep them until they are weened. They can put the word out if anyone comes in, in the next 6-8 weeks looking for that breed. You can also find out the process of surrendering them to the SPCA if you've had no luck finding them a good home. Just find a NO-KILL shelter to surrender them to... even if you have to drive to the next city. Personally, I wouldn't just run an ad in the paper for free puppies because you never know what kind of people would be searching those ads.

Well, good luck either way.

Answer 3

That is so sad. IT is horrid that dogs are treated so poorly. Clearly it is a tie-out dog. I hope you watch more closely to make sure the dog is actually fed and watered.
I cannot imagine that in Texas, coming out of summer, the dog has THAT much coat that you could not see her getting bigger. This is probably because no one pays that much attention to the dog.
She and the puppies should be kept INSIDE now, and checked well for fleas.
Sad situation indeed.

I didn't say you DIDN'T feed the dog, I said the dog is not looked after too well, and if you are putting her total care on your SON, how do you know she is getting proper care??? I have kids and they are not allowed total responsibility for a pet. It is the parents job to CHECK!!! Maybe if the dog was CHECKED more often, she would not have ended up pregnant.
Don't you think it is sad the poor dog had puppies outside???
Aks your son if MAYBE the dog was off her feed for a while before the puppies were born. She probably was, but who knew???????????????? There needs to be more parental involvement. Kids cannot be responsible for another life.

Answer 4

I would put a newspaper ad out and interview the people wanting the dogs really carefully some of these people who buy pets out of the paper are real sicko's, ask friends or relatives also ask a local shelter if they have good clients that are interested in adopting your pups that way you know they are going to a good home!

Answer 5

find a rescue group in your area......Often the shelter will give you the numbers of rescue groups who have non kill shelters. Find out who in your area had a good track record of placing pups. Some of these outfits are just collection agencies.....those that advertise in your local paper is also a way to find them. If your town is too small look into larger cities near by. Houston for instance does a marvelous job. Good luck

Answer 6

hooraaay! Another litter of puppies that will take the homes of homeless animals in shelters, just what we need!
I trust that you'll get her spayed now, because i'm sure you don't want ANOTHER litter of puppies.

The best way is to ALWAYS charge an adoption fee. Don't run an ad in the paper, you'll attract bad people.. ie, people who will use the pups as bait in pit-fighting, people who will perform inhumane experiments with them, etc. I'm sure you don't want that to happen to the puppies!
Make up an application for the pups. it's a good way to screen the "good ones" from the "bad ones" because a lot of people don't even WANT to fill out an application! Ask in depth questions like "what if you can't housetrain this puppy? what will you do with it?" and if their answer is "drop it off at the pound" or something, obviously you don't want to adopt out to them. and you DEFINETLY, MUST make them get these animals FIXED. Seriously. Make them put down a deposit of 50 bux or something and give it back to them when they prove to you that they got the dog fixed. we Really, really, really don't need anymore homeless puppies! There are TONS of low cost spay/neuter clinics everywhere as well, so you can even look those up on google. but seriously.. you sound like a decent person, so please make sure these people get their dog fixed. If they have an unfixed dog, then by all means, do not adopt the dog to them!

Of course, you can always drop off the dogs at a local animal shelter where you know they'll be fixed, they'll go to the vet, and they'll get good homes (if the shelter is no-kill)

GOod luck.. i'm really sorry you didn't get her spayed, but i hope now you know!! if you have any questions email me..

Answer 7

When they are old enough invite relatives over that have kids. The kids will do the rest. Sneaky I know, but it works.

And by the way, males can smell a dog in cycle for many miles and will do practically anything to get to her. The only sure way to prevent pregnancy is to keep them inside or spay them.

Answer 8

I work for a paper in Nebraska....It is incredible the amount of people that respond to pet classifieds. Especially with xmas coming up. Depending on what kind of dog it is....if you put FREE puppies on the classified, i would think you would get rid of them fast. But don't get rid of them too soon....I would say 6-7 weeks old.

Answer 9

Try Craigslist.com, in addition to newspaper and a flyer at the local humane society/vet offices.

What city is this? I might be interested.

Answer 10

awww

give them to relatives or put an AD in yahoo answers :P

but seriously u can put an ad in the local paper and such but make sure u interview the adopters cuz u dont want to give the cuties to bad people