PCAWL Rescue Stories: Shi Tzu Puppies
Meet Carmel, Hershey, Jave, Snickers and Rocky! Five bouncing and very lively male Shi Tzu puppies. These five boys were born 
to a mother who tested brucelosis positive. Brucelosis as it turns out is a very misunderstood disease both in veterinary medicine and in rescue. The canine form is not contagious to humans (only the bovine form is contagious to humans), but it is passed on through a positive male or female being allowed to breed. Normally a brucelosis positive pregnancy would result in an early birth of dead puppies, still born puppies or puppies born unhealthy and unable to sustain life.
These boys were about to prove all the statistics wrong! They were born very healthy and from early testing, were shown to be negative for the disease. Many contacts were made on what would be the best approach to insure that the boys stayed negative. In order to assure that disease antibodies did not form, all five boys were early neutered. More follow up blood tests were done and these boys continued to be and remain negative of the disease that is often passed on to puppies by their mother.
All were able to be placed for adoption and the applicants began to pour in. All five found wonderful homes and are living out a happy life, given this chance by a caring veterinarian who was willing to take a chance for them.
Submitted by Michelle