Puppies Found In Alley Go Up For Adoption at RCHS

Encinitas, CA — Five of seven puppies found abandoned with their mom in an alley were adopted Thursday at Rancho Coastal Humane Society, just hours after they became available.

Polly, an 8-pound Terrier mix, and her brood have been in foster care since their arrival at the Encinitas shelter two months ago.

"Her one female and six male puppies were two or three days old when they were discovered in a box in an alley," Rancho Coastal Humane Society spokesman John Van Zante said.

As of Thursday afternoon, applications were pending for the two others, he said.

"We had a few dozen people come out to meet them," Van Zante said. "In fact, they were standing in line when we opened for business."

The person who discovered the pups and their mother in the alley after hearing noises coming from the box initially turned them into the county's Mission Valley animal shelter, which transferred them to RCHS. Medical officials at RCHS quickly determined that Polly was not producing enough milk to feed her litter.

"The puppies needed round the clock care and bottle feeding in order to survive," said Kelly Peters, coordinator of Rancho Coastal Humane Society's foster care program. "These puppies are alive today thanks to the joint efforts of the person who found them, our rescue partners at the Department of Animal Services, and the RCHS in-home foster care program."

Peters, who cared for the pups in her own home, recalled that "Polly was filthy when she and her pups arrived here."

"She was infested with fleas. Her coat was matted and she was covered with flea dirt," Peters said. "She was a mess."

The puppies are all in good health, including one that had to have an improperly formed eye removed, according to Van Zante. That one was adopted Thursday, he said.

"There was a lady who came in and completely impressed the adoption counselors," Van Zante. "Super nice and very funny. She chose the one-eyed puppy. Told us that she was going to rename him Fetty Wap (after a rapper who has a bad eye.) Said she was planning go buy him a Gucci eye patch."

As for Polly, she needs surgery to repair a floating knee cap, Van Zante said, noting that RCHS is accepting donations for the surgery that will cost about $3,000. The shelter has already received some donations for the surgery that will be performed once all her puppies are adopted. After a recovery period, she will also be available for adoption. 

For more information about the Polly, her puppies or other animals available for adoption at RCHS, call 760-753-6413, stop by 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas or visit Sdpets.org.

"It wasn't just puppies today," Van Zante said. "We had a bonded pair of older dogs that were adopted together. That's always a tough sell. And another older dog and a kitten."