Athena Marie - 12-21-2013
 

This is Athena, sometimes "Nina" for short.

Athena became a part of my family on January 27th, when she was but 5 weeks old. Here is the story of how I came to adopt her,, and why I got her so young.

A good friend of mine had two yorkies that had pups. 8 beautiful babies. it was the mama's second litter. They didnt mean for them to breed, but well, it happen. She had planned to sell the pups when they were old enough, which would not be until they were 10-12 weeks old. But things didnt turn out as planned.

When the pups were 4 weeks old, their Mama came down with an ear infection, and so my friend had to take her to the vet. It wasnt serious, but needed vet attention. Everything went well at the vet office, the vet prescribes some meds for mama and sent her home. On the way home a drunk driver ran a red light and t-boned my friends car. My friends friends car was totaled and she received some pretty serious injuries, but she was going to be ok. Tragically however, her fur baby, Athena's mother, did not survive the accident.

So now, on top of healing from her own injuries and the tragedy of the lost of her beloved pet, my friend had these 8 pups with no mama, and having to figure out how to take care of all them. She couldn't do it on her own, and had very little help at home.

So she asked for the help of her good friends, ones that she trusted completely. She chose friends that she knew had pets and whom she had seen first hand that they took good care of them. She asked us to take on the pups. My friend kept one female, the daughter of the beloved girl she lost in the accident. I took Athena. The other pups went to good homes as well.

I want to give her the best life I can despite the tragedy. I know there is a lot I have to teach her, im just looking for help on what an how to do that. That is why I joined YT. As you can see, this happen suddenly and with out warning. I didn't expect to be getting a new puppy of any kind, much less one so young.

Although I am new to the Yorkie breed, well and of all terriers, I am not new to dogs an puppies. I have had them, raised the my whole life. But Terriers are something new for me, and I have never had to raise a puppy so young without its mother. I also have a 14 month old Shih Tzu, which is the first toy breed pup I have ever gotten. Until then I always had medium size to large breed dogs. I only had one dog in my lifetime that had puppies. So with things happening as they did, and so unexpectedly, I really didnt have time to prepare. Im doing the best I can. So far, I think were doing pretty well. I am working closely with our vet, and I have done a lot of research, an I come here to read an ask questions when I need answers. I just want to give Athena the best life possible. My family and I love this little gal, as does her big brother Zeus ( our Shih Tzu ).

Meet Athena.


:love: 5 WEEKS OLD :love:

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Athena at 6 1/2 weeks old
 

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Nina an her big brother Zeus cuddle in bed.

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V-day ball picture

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So sorry for the loss of the momma dog. I think you're doing great and you definitely came to the right place for help and advice.

I myself found this site 3 years ago when I brought home Allie, a 16 week old female and Noah, a 7 week old male. I didn't know then that pups needed to stay with mom until 10-12 weeks. Well about 2 weeks after I brought them home, Noah went to the vet for a routine appt and shots. We were headed to Padre for vacation and that was our last stop before hitting the road. We left the vet and got maybe 20 minutes away and Noah started seizing. We turned around and went back and after testing him, come to find out he had Parvo. I was devastated and had no idea what to do. I had non refundable hotel and event tickets for my vacation, and my husband and son were already there waiting on us, and here my little guy was sick. I made arrangements for my mom and other daughter to see him every day while I was gone and I left him there on IV and antibiotics. He was there 10 days.
I was gone for 5 days, and when I got back to see him, my vet honestly thought she was going to have to have "the talk" with me about putting him down. I literally spent every hour of every day of the next 5 days at the vets office singing to him, talking to him, holding him skin to skin and just telling him how strong he was and how much I needed him to pull through. It cost me $7500.00 and a lot of tears but he's a happy 3 yr old who just fathered a litter of 4 precious little girls, that are almost 6 weeks old.

I couldn't have done it without the help and support of this site. I came here looking for help and received so much more. I got love, prayers, well wishes and good thoughts from perfect strangers, many of them have gone on to become genuine friends who share In the day to day happenings of my family and me. I couldn't ask for a better group of people.

Wow Mchele,

that is scary. I mentioned my shih Tzu in my original post. I got him when he was 10 week sold. About a weeks after I got him he started having symptoms of parvo. I hadnt had him into the vet yet, but had made the appointment for his shots. Anyway, I of course called the vet immediately and rushed him in. Sitting in the waiting room while they took him back to test him wad terrifying. THANK GOD, it turned out he just had some internal parasites. I cant remember what kind now, but it wasnt the typical round, hook or tape worms. Anyway, he had gotten a bowel infection as a result of it. they had to put him on antibiotics and some strong worming meds. After two weeks he was back to full health but it scared me. I had a puppy die of parvo several years before that when my kids were little. I didnt know anything about parvo before that. So I idnt know the precautions to take nor the signs to look for. It was horrible.

Athena is not stepping foot outside until she has had at least two sets of shots, probably three. the only animals she is around is her brother and he is fully vaccinated and healthy.


Im so glad your baby made it through it!

Athena's First Dress
 

We just got this today. Wish I had had it soon enough for her V-day ball pictures. but i didn't.

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Athena looks gorgeous in her dress. I am glad that her sad start has turned into a wonderful life with you. I hope your friend is feeling better and recovering from the accident. My deepest sympathies on the loss of her little Momma. I love the photo of Athena and her big brother Zeus. Best wishes to you and your little Olympians.

What a sad story about the Mommy dog. Heartbreaking. I'm so glad you and others were able to save the little babies. Athena is adorable and will bring you so much happiness. I hope your friend is healing from her injuries.

Athena is adorable & I love her valentine dress! Looks like you are doing great with her & you definitely came to the right place for info. :D

That's tough... the mother.... Keep up the good work! Looks like you have a new child in your home! :):thumbup:

What a sad story :(
I'm glad your friend was able to keep a little girl from the litter.
Athena is absolutely precious!!

She's Beautiful ! Such a sad beginning to this baby's life and the horrible way that she lost her momma. She is lucky to have you and her other skin mommy who took care of her.


Her big brother seems to be doing really well with her, what an awesome photo of the tow of them.

I am so glad to see that Athena is doing so well! She looks adorable in her dress :love: what a lucky girl to have you :littleang

the cuddle like that every night until I go to bed and put Athena in her playpen.

Just know parvo can live in the ground, and be brought into your house on the soles of shoes, friends clothing, hair and other pets. It's ruthless and very few things will actually kill it. Be careful with you tiny one!

Thank you. I do know that. Im being as careful as I can.