Salem’s journey hasn’t been easy.
Unlike many dogs who are cherished as the “favorite four-legged friend” in their families, Salem’s story took a different turn. Her family abandoned her, deciding they “didn’t want her anymore.”
Left with the neighbor in rural Mississippi, Salem’s future was uncertain, unsure of where she would end up next.
Thankfully, a rescue stepped in…
The Shocking Truth
Wanting to give Salem the best chance in life, the neighbor reached out to Happy Tails Canine Rescue, a rescue organization based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team quickly took her in, and it didn’t take long for them to realize just how sweet and gentle she was.
Salem proved to be the perfect companion—a sweet, gentle dog who was ready to be loved. When the rescue posted her up for adoption, applications started flooding in.
The rescue made sure she was fully recovered before matching her with her ideal family. When Salem first arrived, she was in rough shape: severely malnourished, with an injured foot and parasites that required weeks of care.
Eventually, Salem was adopted by a wonderful family. She soon forgot about her painful past and began a fresh, new life.
Thanks to HTCR, all her treatment costs were covered, including a spay procedure that her new owners had planned for her. Then, something unexpected happened!
During the procedure, the vet discovered that Salem was already too far along for spaying—she was pregnant!
“When the vet went in to spay her, she found Salem was pregnant and due more than likely in a few days,” the rescue wrote on Facebook.
The news shocked both her new family and the rescue team! Not only had they been unaware of Salem’s pregnancy, but she didn’t appear to have a large belly at all!
Then Comes Another Surprise
Salem’s case was full of surprises. Yet, her new family was more than happy to help their sweet dog nurse her puppies until they were old enough for adoption.
A few days later, Salem’s due date arrived, bringing with it yet another unexpected twist. When the vet performed an X-ray to determine how many puppies Salem was expecting, they were stunned by the results.
Salem was having just ONE puppy—a huge, miracle puppy!
“We asked for an x-ray to get a puppy count…Salem is pregnant with ONE puppy! One miracle puppy,” the rescue wrote.
This rare case of singleton puppy syndrome was a total surprise. Later, when her family did a DNA test to find out Salem’s breed, the mystery became clearer.
It turned out Salem was not the Aussie Shepherd – Border Collie mix they had suspected. She was 95% Great Pyrenees! That explained the giant puppy!
Although singleton puppies can sometimes face complications, Salem’s little one, Astrid, was healthy and thriving. The proud mama was now ready to shower her “chubby little pup” with love!
For now, Salem and Astrid will remain together, with Salem nursing her pup until she’s strong enough to venture into her new life.
“Both Salem and Astrid will be spayed, and baby Astrid will be up for adoption through our rescue,” the rescue shared.
Who knows—maybe Salem has more surprises in store for her family. You just can’t be sure!