This Tiny Pup Is Jumping Huge Hurdles To Stay Alive, But Her Will Is Strong
She's the tiniest, cutest little pup you ever did see...and she's determined to keep fighting.
Meet Squirt, a palm-sized pug pup too cute for words.
But when she was born, on Jan. 28, 2016, Squirt was already at a severe disadvantage.
Welcomed into the world by Staffy and Bully Breed Rescue Inc. in Western Australia, Squirt was far from healthy when born. Immediately, volunteers knew something was wrong with the tiny pup.
"It was clear that something wasn’t quite right with Squirt’s birth. To begin with, she was not born in a sack and was struggling to breathe when she took her first breaths," Staffy and Bully reported.
Volunteers had to act fast in order to save her from dying of lack of oxygen.
"Quick-thinking volunteers were straight on to it and resuscitated her, but they weren’t in the clear yet...While her brothers and sisters were feeding and growing stronger, she was falling behind...With a possible liver shunt, prolapsed anus and distended legs, little Squirt is well behind the growth of her siblings. At 13 days old, she weighs just 185 grams, while her siblings are well over 700 grams."
After continued and diligent care from staff at Staffy and Bully, they decided the only way Squirt would have a fighting chance was if she was hand-nurtured.
So that's precisely what they did. One anonymous staff member volunteered to personally take care of Squirt, which was no small commitment.
"Her wonderful foster mum is hand feeding her every two hours, 24 hours a day. Yes, that means she wakes up during the night to do it too!"
Now, thanks to the incredible care of Staffy and Bully, Squirt has more than just a fighting chance.
"Although she has faced some big challenges for a tiny puppy, Squirt is a determined little girl...PetRescue will be following Squirt’s journey as she grows stronger and bigger, so be sure to look out for the next update."
Our hats are off to all the volunteers at Staffy and Bully who helped saved Squirt's life. To follow her progress, visit the rescue's Facebook page!