Beagle and her ‘pupsicles’ rescued from snowstorm

The eight animals will be available for adoption through Animal Friends Humane Society.

This beagle mom and seven puppies were brought to Animal Friends Humane Society in Hamilton after being found this week in the snow. To donate to Animal Friends, call (513) 867-5727.

Contributed photo This beagle mom and seven puppies were brought to Animal Friends Humane Society in Hamilton after being found this week in the snow. To donate to Animal Friends, call (513) 867-5727.

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By Amanda Seitz, Staff Writer 3:06 AM Saturday, February 13, 2010

ST. CLAIR TWP. — Lucky number seven rings especially true for one dog and her litter after they were rescued this week following a snowstorm.

Snowflake and her seven snow babies, as Butler County Chief Dog Warden Julie Holmes likes to call the beagle and her litter, were discovered Wednesday, Feb. 10, by Chris Demoret on his St. Clair Twp. farm after a snowstorm. The dog, which was emaciated, had snuggled up to a hay roll on the Benzing farm and delivered her pups, said Holmes.

The puppies likely could not have survived another hour in the snow, said Holmes, who added that pets must be kept indoors when temperatures dip below freezing.

“When she was laying on them to try keep them warm, instead of keeping them warm she was driving them into the snow,” Holmes said. “She would have ended up killing them.”

Meg Stephenson, executive director of Animal Friends Humane Society, said the dog appeared neglected and abandoned.

“I am very confident she was dumped,” Stephenson said. “All the signs point to that she was not lost.”

Despite her poor condition and the frigid temperatures, Holmes said Snowflake was selflessly trying to care for her puppies. “Sometimes I think that we could take a lesson from animals,” she said. “Most dogs are great moms.”

Stephenson, who calls the litter “pupsicles,” said the dog family would be placed in a foster home for the next eight weeks. The animals will be available for adoption once they are all spayed or neutered, and the mother returns to a healthy weight, she said.

Anyone with information about the dog’s previous owner is asked to call the dog warden at (513) 887-7297.

How to help

Send a monetary donation to Animal Friends Humane Society, 1820 Princeton Road, Hamilton, OH 45011

Call a donation over the phone with a credit card at (513) 867-5727.

Drop off supplies — wish list is online at www.animalfriendshs.org

Adopt a pet: Shelter hours are 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday; and 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

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