The idea to have puppies had seemed more and more crazy and silly closer to the term of birth. Such decisions cannot be changed. Equipped with everything according to a list, a book and telephone numbers I slept with Candy at the "maternity home" five days befor the birth. Nature arranged it in a different way, though, puppies had to be taken out by operation. Sister at veterinary unit brought to us seven slim black worm-like moles in a basket. We with my husband were drying them, warming them and looking at them with interest. They were smaller but regular. We came home at night with Candy (weak from narcosis) and the basket. We let the little ones suck, Candy did not protest, because she was tired and I was nice to her, talking about the little puppies. It was about half past five in the morning when the puppies woke up and I started to prepare for feeding. Candy fled and hid herself when she saw her lot. I was sitting at the basket of the screaming little ones and I was thinking what to do …. I did not dare to ring this early in the morning, so I used prepared milk and bottles and I fed the puppies. Everything was clear and simple according to the book, although practice is always more "interesting". I was harnessed by advice of experienced - well, one advice - feed, feed, feed. So I took role of a warden and Candy had to feed every two hours, although she did try not to see her children and I had to threaten her with everything possible or impossible. I won this fight with support of MVDr Uzel and Pavla, Eva and MVDr. Štoural in five days. Telephone bill was horrendous, but it was my only connection with the surrounding world. I had a great moral support from all friends. Next three weeks went very quietly. Candy was great mother, the puppies grew, Candy had enough milk and I tried to manage work, maternity leave and service at Candy, with help of all family. New work started after a month, we started to feed extra food. Puppies were fairly good in eating all from the plate. This was a difficult time for my family, when they were asking "what smells here so nicely", they got reply "take something else, this is for the little ones". The puppies started to go out in a good weather around their sixth week. They learned to hide in cannel when they needed to sleep or when they were annoyed. The rest of the time they stayed on the lawn and played with toys and everything they found. They went to the maternity box at night. They required breakfast at about 5 a.m. and they wanted to go out. It is funny to remember the seven noses screaming over my head at five in the morning, now (then it drove me mad).
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We are 4.5 months old now, two girls and four boys are at new homes, one girl stayed with us. It has been interesting, demanding and tiresome. It is beautiful, satisfactory and joyful. I will follow the "babies" as they grow and go through life, at least some of them and I will be grateful to the new owners for this.
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