Pup saved after ‘a traumatic crash’ in California. Then she ‘unexpectedly’ gave birth

A resilient dog and her five little ones are thriving — and resting — at their foster home after being rescued from a scary situation in California.

Pumpkin Spice was found by Riverside County police after a crash between a car and a bus , Rocky Kanaka’s blog said. While she was found with a collar and leash, she was in rough condition and no owner could be located.

“Pumpkin was found at the scene by the Riverside police, who called animal control after no one at the scene claimed her,” SPOT (Saving Pets One at a Time) representative Alisa Trejo told McClatchy News. “The shelter and Animal Control tried to contact the people involved in the crash and no one claimed her.”

When Pumpkin was rescued, the shelter discovered that she was pregnant added but did not realize she was so close to delivering because she was so underweight, the blog said.

“She is very underweight, probably 3-4 lbs, and only weighing 22.8 lbs now, that is 10-15 percent of her body weight, so we are guessing she wasn’t receiving the best care,” Trejo said.

Pumpkin gave birth a short time after being rescued.

“Pumpkin Spice gave birth 9/19/24 to five baby puppies, all female, after a traumatic crash in Riverside County,” SPOT rescue said in a Sept. 25 Facebook post. “Animal Control brought her to a local shelter where she gave birth unexpectedly and no owners came forward to claim her.”

Pumpkin and her babies now are situated comfortably in a foster home.

“Her and the puppies are doing great, the puppies are starting to open their eyes and are chunky babies. Pumpkin Spice (is) a really good mama,” Trejo said.

“Foster mom says she is a good mama, keeps her pen clean and goes potty outside, puppies are growing and getting love from the foster family. Mama loves attention and affection, she is a really nice pup :). The puppies are all females and range right now in size from just under 1 lb to a little over 1 lb - They are adorable, and PS is very sweet!”

Riverside is about a 60-mile drive east of downtown Los Angeles.

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