Nola's Family

The girls @ 4.5 weeks old

Bear, the only boy

Mattie, she looked similar to Nola but darker.

Hattie!

(I *almost* went back to get her too!)

Patch, Tara stepped on her when she was tiny and it caused a bald spot on her hip.

Nola's dad, Majra

(half rottie, half shepherd)

Tara (Nola's mom)

(half Rhodesian Ridgeback, half ?)

Tara had eight puppies but only five lived. Four girls, Nola, Hattie, Mattie, and Patch, and one boy, Bear. Nola was identical to her mom and Bear was identical to his dad.

Both Tara and Majra had been adopted from the shelter several years ago. Their person moved and left them in the backyard chained to a tree. He had someone "checking" on them but they were often without food, water, or shelter. Neighbors brought Tara and Majra to their yard. They were both very thin - so thin that they didn't even realize Tara was pregnant. Two days later she had the puppies. They didn't think the puppies would survive since Tara was so emaciated, but luckily most of them did. They were moved to the inside shed that had heat so mom would be comfortable.

Both Tara and Majra were extremely shy probably due to a combination of neglect and former treatment. From all of the research I've done it appears that fear can actually be hereditary so it could be this too... I often wondered if being with Tara had influenced Nola's behavior but after consulting with vets and animal behaviorists and doing my own research, there's a good chance it was inherited.

I'd love to see what Nola's sisters look like... her brother, Bear, lives with the family that rescued the parents. He is smaller than Majra but looks just like him.

Tara and Majra were adopted by a family that lives on a farm in the country.