Dori and The Hunger Games Litter

Dori was found abandoned near restaurants in Grenada—extremely pregnant, starving, and struggling to survive on the streets. The Grenada SPCA was contacted, and she was brought in for evaluation. Radiographs revealed that Dori was carrying approximately ten puppies.

I fostered Dori for two weeks while we prepared for her to give birth. On January 31st, 2024, Dori went into labor—and surprised everyone.

Instead of ten puppies, Dori gave birth to twelve. The litter was later named The Hunger Games Litter, a fitting name for such a fragile and intense beginning. Tragically, within a few hours, one of the female puppies, Rue, passed away. While heartbreaking, Dori and her remaining eleven puppies continued to fight.

For the next six weeks, I provided full neonatal and maternal care in my home. The puppies nursed on Dori while I closely monitored their health through daily weight checks, growth tracking, and constant observation to ensure they were gaining appropriately. Dori was a small dog with fewer nipples than puppies, and with such a large litter, I was especially careful to balance her nutrition while making sure the puppies were receiving adequate intake. My goal was to support both the mother and her litter without compromising either.

One puppy in particular, Cinna, struggled early on. He was clearly the runt of the litter and required extra attention. I scheduled individual feeding times with him to ensure he was able to grow alongside his siblings. With consistency and care, Cinna slowly gained strength and began to thrive.

After six weeks, the puppies were separated into smaller groups and distributed to additional fosters. I kept Dori, Effie, and Cinna with me as they transitioned into the next phase of their lives.

Dori herself soon received the ending she so deeply deserved.

I met a kind woman on the beach who—by pure chance—was flying a private plane back to New Jersey. With careful coordination, Dori was able to fly home on a private plane, where she met her forever family. She is now living a beautiful life in Manhattan, loved, safe, and cherished beyond measure.

Dori’s journey is the very definition of rags to riches—from starving and abandoned on the streets of Grenada to a devoted mother and, finally, a beloved family dog living the life she always deserved.