A woman who fostered a dog over the holidays couldn’t believe it when the pup went into labor days later, and there was no way she could send the mother and son duo back to the shelter.
For many years, Haley Jeannotte, 24, had seen campaigns to get shelter dogs fostered over the holidays. In 2024, she finally decided to take part, and she went to visit South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter on December 23 to pick her new buddy.
Jeannotte told Newsweek that she loved the idea of helping a dog “get some time out of the shelter” and to spoil them. After going round, she didn’t feel like she’d find the right pup for her, but there was one special dog waiting in the back.
“They brought Orca out and I wanted to cry because I could tell she had been through it,” Jeannotte said. “I brought her home and instantly fell in love.”
It’s thought that Orca is around 7 or 8 years old, and she was dropped off at the shelter with no documentation. She was severely malnourished, had ear infections, and appeared to have slept outside for long periods. She’s also believed to have had anywhere between six and 10 litters over the years.
As she didn’t have a name, the shelter called her Orca because of the sounds she makes when she’s excited.
Jeannotte said: “They assumed she was dropped off because whoever owned her couldn’t breed her anymore. I was only supposed to foster for four days, but I loved her so much. I chose to keep her in my home and decide if it was the right fit for her before moving through with adoption.”
Two weeks later, Jeannotte thought her foster pup seemed unwell so she took Orca to the shelter for a second opinion. To everyone’s surprise, they discovered that not only was Orca pregnant, but she was also in labor.
Orca delivered one puppy on January 11, who is named Kylo.
No one at the shelter even knew she was pregnant, so Kylo’s arrival certainly came as a surprise. The shelter asked if she still wanted to foster Orca and her pup, and Jeanotte explained that she wanted to adopt Orca but would temporarily foster Kylo.
Needless to say, that plan soon changed.
“After watching her and her baby that first day home, I couldn’t even think about giving him up,” Jeannotte said. “She deserved to be a mommy, and since he was the only one, it was meant to be.
“She has the best instincts. If he’s crying, she’s the first one by his side, and she plays so gently with him. If he’s being naughty, she will push him over to me with her paws,” she continued.
Jeannotte also noticed how much Orca came out of her shell after welcoming Kylo. She’s very protective, but happy to let Jeannotte and her other dog, Milli, keep him entertained.
When Jeannotte agreed to foster Orca for four days in December, she had no idea it would lead to two permanent adoptions.
She shared how much her life changed in a TikTok post (@halesjean), adding that Orca and Kylo “have healed me” in ways they couldn’t imagine. The video showing her two newest additions went viral with over 632,800 views and 174,200 likes in just a matter of days.
Prior to rescuing Orca, Jeannotte struggled and felt like she had no purpose. But that changed after rescuing Orca, who helps her “worries disappear” with those adorable puppy eyes.
By sharing her experience, Jeannotte hopes to encourage others to rescue a pet in need of a loving home.
Jeannotte said: “After finding Orca, I felt like I had a purpose, I was more motivated to get up every day and I wanted to be more present. Watching her and Kylo makes me know I did something right by keeping him and allowing her to finally keep a baby.”
The viral post has amassed over 2,000 comments on TikTok already, as many people praised Jeannotte for saving not just one, but two lives.
One comment reads: “crying over this mama and son duo.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “You’re an absolute angel.”
While another person replied: “She probably never thought life could be this good.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
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