Saved just in time. Bev Farmer of Podenco Friends tells the story of this mamma podenca and her puppies, living rough with freezing temperatures at night. She has been named Alexa.

‘The team in Valencia have caught her and are on their way down to Murcia, the bad news is she has been badly injured. Deep lacerations down her side and one of her breasts ripped open, they think she has been attacked by a wild boar. We have had to make the decision to take the mum now she needs urgent medical care and people are still in the area looking for the pups. Our vets are on standby ready to operate on her.

Alexa arrived and went straight to the vet. She will be operated on, she was much brighter this morning. The pups have accepted feeding from the bottle with gusto. It was a long day and night. Warren took over the 4 am and 6 am feeds so I managed to get some sleep. When I chose the name of Alexa for the mum it was a thank you to Alex Frederickson who recently did a fundraiser for us. Today I have discovered the name Alexa means “defender” so was a good choice for her since she had to fight against a wild animal to protect her babies.

What a day. The injury to Alexa is very deep and infected, the tissue is necrotic and the smell coming from the wound not good. So this evening the wound has been cleaned medications administered to get her stable ready to operate. We have to hand feed the pups as it will not possible for Alexa to feed, her milk is compromised due the infection.

This girl has had to fight of her life, not only the major injury but she is covered in wounds on her body. The puppies are now on 90 mins bottle feeds, I have taken 5 and Beccie Strickleton has taken the other 4 so a few sleepless night ahead. If we hadn’t this family they would have perished.

It took a small army to save them so thanks to Janette Lopez, and her daughter Lisa Gipson, our vets Eduardo, Bruno and Jose. Silvia Guau Guau and Jose Podenco El Gran Olvidado and the many people in North Valencia that discovered Alexa and brought her down to us and Beccie Strickleton for taking four of the puppies home to bottle feed. Also thank you to everyone for your good wishes messages of support and donations. I feel we have lots of aunties and uncles around the world for this little family.’

If you want to help with the costs of the vet care for Alexa and food for the pups, donate by paypal to podencofriends@hotmail.co.uk.

UPDATE – Alexa’s surgery went well, she has lost a breast and will need a lot of aftercare. She has mange so has started treatment and we need to get the puppies checked over as well. Awaiting results from blood test but she ate well after the op and quickly settled down. Alexa will remain in Janette Lopez of Finca la Castellana care until she regains full health. Janette and I have worked together on a number of rescues, in particular podenco mums and pups. As individuals we can’t take on these bigger rescues but by teaming up and pooling our resources we can. This rescue didn’t quite go to plan but we got there in the end. Alexa and puppies are well just the humans that are exhausted..