Salem’s story began in a rural area of Mississippi when her family decided they no longer wanted her. Surrendered to a neighbor, she was soon placed in the care of Happy Tails Canine Rescue, arriving malnourished, injured, and battling multiple types of worms. Despite her tough start, the rescue team immediately took her to the vet to start her on the road to recovery.
When Happy Tails shared Salem’s story online, her sweet demeanor and resilience captured countless hearts. Adoption requests poured in, and soon, a loving family was ready to welcome her.
In late October, Salem was adopted under a foster-to-adopt arrangement while the rescue covered her medical care. Her spay surgery was scheduled for November 8th, but during the procedure, the vet made a jaw-dropping discovery.
Salem wasn’t just healing — she was pregnant.
And not just any pregnancy — she was carrying one enormous puppy.
The vet immediately called Christina Gómez, the director of Happy Tails, with the surprising news.
“She was heavily pregnant and due in just 2 to 3 days,” Gómez recalled. “We were stunned. Salem had no belly to give it away!”
An X-ray revealed that Salem was expecting a rare singleton puppy, a phenomenon where a dog carries only one pup. This little one had taken up her entire uterus, growing much larger than a typical littermate might.
Just days later, Salem gave birth to a healthy, giant puppy named Astrid, who immediately stole everyone’s hearts with her sheer size and cuteness.
“She’s basically a polar bear in puppy form,” Gómez joked.
Salem’s adoptive family, though thrilled, had their hands full with two children and two other pets, so they decided to foster Astrid until she was ready for her forever home. For now, mother and pup are inseparable, with Salem taking excellent care of her adorable baby.
When Astrid is old enough, Happy Tails Canine Rescue will find her a loving family, ensuring she has the happy ending she deserves.
“She’s going to bring so much joy to her future family,” Gómez said. “She’s truly one-of-a-kind.”
From abandonment to unexpected motherhood, Salem’s journey is a testament to resilience, love, and the unexpected surprises life can bring.
