Best Friends Animal Society seeks foster families for 'bottle puppies'

LOS ANGELES - With so many dogs crowding into Los Angeles-area shelters, there’s now a growing influx of newborn puppies, many of whom require round-the-clock care that is difficult for shelters to provide.

"We are seeing a huge influx of puppies in city and county shelters," said Marcela Ramos, outcome supervisor at Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles. "They are very difficult to care for just 'cause they’re babies and need around-the-clock care."

To save these vulnerable animals from euthanasia, Best Friends Animal Society’s Los Angeles center takes in at-risk puppies and other pets from local shelters, providing 24-hour care with the goal of finding them forever homes. But with so many young puppies arriving, the organization is calling on the public for help.

"Fostering is the biggest thing you can do to help these guys out," Ramos said. "They can give so much love if you just have a spare room to be able to house them."

One of the puppies, a Rottweiler named Velour, spent a week at the center being bottle-fed before being reunited with his mother, Papaya. Velour is now ready to be fostered, but many younger puppies, like pug-mix Woods, still need intensive care.

Woods, born in a shelter with a cleft palate, requires tube feeding because he cannot yet nurse from his mother. His care includes keeping him upright after feeding to make sure the milk stays in his stomach.

Best Friends Animal Society urges animal lovers to consider fostering "bottle puppies," giving them a chance at a healthy start and, ultimately, a forever home.

"How special does it feel when you’re part of their upbringing, too," Ramos said. "When you finally see them get to that stage when they’re being adopted and you can say, ‘Wow, I really helped save that life.’ It’s so rewarding."

There are many ways to help, including fostering, adopting, volunteering, advocating and donating.

From their website: "We can provide training and behavior guidance should you ever need it, or help you find local spay/neuter services. Working together, we'll make California and the entire country no-kill in 2025."

You can click here to learn more about the Best Friends Animal Society.