w Editor’s note: This is the second in a series following the life of Valkyrie and her pups after they were dropped off at the Kauai Humane Society.
The dog known as Valkyrie is operating under another alias these days and is tucked in with her three puppies at a foster home in Wailua with April and Tom Finnegan.
They’ve dubbed her “Mamma,” and even gave her puppies some nicknames after the famed chipmunk characters — Simon, Theodore and Brittany.
Valkyrie was dropped off at the Kauai Humane Society kennel with four newborns on Jan. 19, sporting an injured eye, dry skin and her rib bones sticking out underneath her skin because she was so thin.
And now, after spending more than a month with the Finnegans, the mixed-breed brindle dog has healed from her skin and eye conditions. She’s still thin, still mild-mannered, and still nursing three of her four pups.
“We’ve been feeding her twice what the humane society (originally) suggested,” April Finnegan said Wednesday.
KHS has been working with the couple as they help Valkyrie gain weight, adjusting her food intake.
Valkyrie was dropped off without a microchip, so KHS doesn’t have a record of shots or a medical history, and doesn’t know to who the dog belongs to. The theory is that she was neglected, or that she was a hunting dog.
At KHS, the mom and pups had their own kennel in order to keep the pups healthy, and they’re separated from the Finnegans’ three other dogs at the Wailua home as well.
“At first she was protective if the other dogs came up, but now they’ll touch noses with the puppies and I think she trusts them,” April Finnegan said. “Really, Mamma is the dog to adopt. She’s so sweet and really loves human contact.”
Sitting in the pen with the four of them, they climb over each other to reach a hand that pets their heads. Mom is in the mix, gently nosing her puppies out of the way so she can get some attention.
The puppies, which were still at the roly-poly stage when they were dropped off at KHS, are now getting their feet underneath them and starting to play. They’ll tug at anything they can get their teeth on — toes and fingers, sweaters and jewelry, hair and pant legs.
“They started vocalizing just a couple days ago,” April Finnegan said. “Brittany, the girl, she’ll be a handful.”
Finnegan says that because the little girl puppy has lots of energy. That puppy will be a good addition for the right family.
The three pups lost a brother. That puppy lasted about a week under the Finnegans’ care before it passed. While they were able to care for it, April Finnegan said the puppy was weaker and smaller than the rest of them, and had developmental delays that were already apparent.
“Mirah over at the humane society, she said she thinks that’s why nature gives them litters,” April Finnegan said.
And while Tom and April shed a few tears when the puppy passed, the rest of the dogs have moved forward, growing healthier by the day. They’ll be ready to adopt when they’re about eight weeks old, which is also when they can be sterilized.
“Neighborhood kids have been coming over and playing with the puppies, socializing them,” April Finnegan said.
So far, there haven’t been any serious offers to adopt, though the puppies have been showered with love from every passerby and visitor to the home.
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Jessica Else, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
