Texas woman comes to New Kensington to take home dog she rescued, gave up

A Texas woman came to New Kensington on Friday to take home a stray dog that gave birth to 11 puppies two weeks after she took it into her home in June.

While Sandy Hightower was OK with giving up the puppies, she realized she made a terrible mistake in letting their mother, which she calls simply “Momma,” go with them.

Hightower was with the small dog, some kind of beagle or hound, as it gave birth over several hours in the middle of the night at her northeast Texas home June 29. She said goodbye to her Oct. 19.

“I just was heartbroken — and I have never been that way over a dog, ever,” Hightower said. “I just feel we had a connection. She was living on the streets, going through God knows what. She got comfortable here — and I sent her away again.”

Momma and her litter arrived at Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley on Oct. 20. Shelter Manager Jacque Perin drove to Nashville for a hand-off with volunteers from the Northeast Texas Rescue Organization, which rescues dogs from the county shelter on the euthanasia list.

Animal Protectors has taken in dogs from NETRO three times before, Animal Protectors board President Katie Fisher Martinez said.

With three dogs already in her home and unable to keep Momma and her pups, Hightower reached out to NETRO. It didn’t have space or fosters for the dozen dogs, so Hightower cared for them until arrangements could be made between it and Animal Protectors.

“She trusted us and NETRO enough to load them up and bring them halfway across the country to find homes,” Martinez said. “I could tell before the transport was going to happen that she was having second thoughts about giving the mom up. The mom slept in her bed, and (Hightower) adored her.”

All 11 puppies — seven males and four females — were fixed at VCA Valley Vet Animal Hospital in Lower Burrell on Friday. Four were adopted and expected to go to their homes by Sunday; four others are anticipated to be adopted next week; and three remained available as of Friday.

Hightower and her mother, Brenda Ringler, flew to Pittsburgh International Airport, rented a car and drove to New Kensington. They were set to make the 16-hour drive back to Mt. Vernon, Texas, with Momma.

“It’s almost like we never parted,” Hightower said. “It’s like she went on a little vacation.”

Finding Momma

Hightower, 46, said her daughter, Beth, 19, found the dog outside a convenience store in nearby Winfield, Texas, about mid-June during a stretch of weather when the temperature was 100 to 110 degrees. Hightower said her daughter told her the dog was huge, about to give birth and begging for food. She wanted to bring it home.

“My daughter and I have always had a heart for animals, especially a stray. We love souls that don’t have a chance,” she said. “I couldn’t say no.”

It wasn’t until two weeks later, on June 29, that the puppies were born.

“I thought they would never stop coming,” Hightower said. “We had bets going that there would be eight, maybe nine, but we never guessed 11.”

Because of the condition Momma was in when they found her, Hightower was concerned the puppies would not be healthy. They gave her continuous access to food over those two weeks.

“Amazingly enough, every single one of them was healthy, and she did great,” Hightower said. “I think that two weeks that we had to keep her cool and relaxed and get the nutrition is what saved the babies and her.”

‘We don’t need another dog’

At first, Hightower was determined that they would not keep them. There are so many abandoned and stray animals in her area that it’s impossible to save them all.

But Hightower and Momma got attached to each other.

“She attached to me because I helped her when she had her puppies. A lot of times they don’t want you around. She was not that way,” she said. “I got attached to her, too.

“In my heart, I love her, but I also want what’s best for her. We don’t need another dog,” she said. “After she left, it was almost like I was experiencing a terrible breakup — the whole couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. I didn’t want to talk to anybody. I’d get upset looking at her kennel, crying and stuff. This dog really made an impact on me.”

Hightower said her daughter told her to get Momma back. She’s grateful to Animal Protectors for helping reunite them.

“I have really been shocked by the love that they have showed me and being patient with me,” she said.

She’s good with leaving the puppies with Animal Protectors.

“I have a lot of faith they are going to find them great homes,” she said. “That makes me feel good.”