Special team of puppies ready for homes

RANCHO SANTA FE — Nine “rookies,” whose manager was found pregnant in a barn just before Christmas, are ready to join your family team and report to spring training.
The young “players” are retriever-blend puppies, Matthew, Memphis, Miami, Michael, Mimi, Mitchell, Molly, May, and Moose, who were made available March 3 at Helen Woodward Animal Center.
“There were too many similarities to ignore between these puppies and the major league rookies that are reporting to baseball spring training,” said HWAC team spokesman John Van Zante. “Neither the puppies nor the humans have had much playing time. They both need training if they’re going to reach their greatest potential. They’re eager to learn. And every rookie, whether it’s a baseball player or a puppy, dreams of a long term contract with a no-trade clause.”
HWAC Adoptions Manager LaBeth Thompson recalls that the Rookie Puppies came from humble beginnings that might sound familiar. “Just before Christmas a farmer found a pregnant dog, curled up on a pile of straw in his barn. He took her to an animal rescue group in Los Angeles, but they weren’t able to provide care for a mommy dog with puppies due to arrive in just a few days. That group transferred the dog to HWAC on Dec. 23. We named her, ‘Mary’ because there was room at the inn.”
Van Zante reports that Matthew, Memphis, Miami, Michael, Mimi, Mitchell, Molly, May and Moose were born five days later on Dec. 28. “Now they’re eight weeks old and ready to begin their professional careers as family dogs.”
The adoption contract to draft one of the Rookie Puppies onto your family team is $295 plus a $40 microchip identification fee.
For more information about these pups or other veteran dogs and cats, visit Helen Woodward Animal Center at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe. Call (858) 756-4117, or log on to www.animalcenter.org. Adoption kennels are open weekdays noon to 6 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.