At just two days old, with their umbilical cords still attached, a litter of puppies was found in a bucket next to a dumpster in the city of Rochester. Their future looked grim—until fate and a good samaritan stepped in and changed their story. This compassionate community member gently gathered the tiny pups and brought them to Lollypop Farm for help.
Upon arrival, our team sprang into action. The puppies were in critical condition—every second mattered. Lollypop Farm Foster Care Supervisor Sue Dusett had an incubator ready to warm their fragile bodies. Unsure of how long they had been without their mother, Sue also prepared bottles and gave them their first feeding. They were starving, eagerly finishing every drop. Despite the uncertainty of their first 48 hours, their resilience gave us hope, but their journey to recovery had only just begun. After their initial examinations at the Lollypop Farm Klingenstein Veterinary Clinic, we confirmed we had three boys and one little girl.
They remained in Sue’s experienced care to ensure their survival with round-the-clock care. While bottle feeding baby puppies might sound sweet, it’s incredibly intensive. The puppies were fed every two hours—including throughout the night. They were named Aaliyah, Tupac, 2 Chainz, and Biggie Smalls.
Soon after arriving, Aaliyah, the only girl in the litter, was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia—a condition that can occur when food or liquid accidentally enters the lungs. This is not uncommon in very young puppies still learning how to eat and drink.
Aaliyah’s treatment required oxygen support, so she was placed in an experienced foster home with an oxygen tent. Thanks to this expert care, she is doing well and is currently being weaned off oxygen. Sue is hopeful that Aaliyah will be back with her brothers within the next week.
Now around three weeks old, the puppies have opened their eyes, begun to explore, and are showing off their budding personalities. They love to eat, cuddle, and, of course, soak up all the love they can get.
Their survival is nothing short of a miracle—made possible by the dedication of our staff, the expertise of our veterinary and foster teams, and the unwavering compassion of community members like you.
If you find puppies or kittens abandoned, please call our Humane Law Enforcement hotline at (585) 223-6500, or call our main line at (585) 223-1330 and you will be directed to the appropriate department.
To become a foster or for more information, visit here.
To donate to pets like these puppies visit here.
