by Leanne Loy
editor@thenewsleaders.com
When family dog Trixie gave birth to eight puppies last March, it was important to 14-year-old Saima Velline that the puppies went to good homes. After all, not only was she there for the birth of all eight puppies, but her mom Cindy said she spent the three nights prior to the birth sleeping on the floor next to Trixie, just in case.
“Saima slept on the kitchen floor (on a comfy pillow bed) right outside the entry with the whelping box for three nights,” her mom said, “as we thought Trixie was close to delivering.”
Velline, a resident of St. Joseph and student at St. John’s Prep, always knew she wanted to breed her golden retriever Trixie, at least once.
And she always knew that she was going to be a big part of the entire process. Which she was.
She did her research and talked to their vet about what to expect. When the seventh little puppy came out, the runt, and wasn’t moving or breathing, Velline knew exactly what to do.
“I massaged her chest and neck and got her breathing,” she said. “And then she just kind of spit up and then she was fine.”
Velline admits that the little one was a little bit weaker than the rest of them and didn’t quite have all of her fur, but she pulled through in the end and it was decided that she was going to be the puppy they would keep.
But now that all the puppies were here the hard part came. Finding homes for them all.
“We knew of some friends that had wanted a puppy” Velline said, “so we reached out to them.”
She said they didn’t want to put out flyers for the puppies because they wanted to know where each one of them was going. So, they spread the word to their friends and those friends told their friends. And today, they know exactly where all the puppies are and who has them.
And knowing this made it all that much easier when it came time to coordinate the puppies’ first birthday party.
“We have a giant text with all the families who got a puppy” Velline said.
All of the new owners said they wanted to stay in contact with one another and send pictures of their puppies as they grew.
“It just helped so much because everyone was into 100 percent” she said.
The party was held on March 20, the weekend after the puppies’ actual birthday. And everyone was able to make it except for the two puppies who now live up in Grand Marais. But they too have been staying connected and Velline has been able to visit them twice so far.
The party planning was taken seriously. Velline wanted it to be held at a place where the sisters, one brother and mom doggies could run around and play, so she decided to have everyone meet at the Millstream dog park in St. Joseph.
From there it was just a matter of what they would serve to both human and dog. And of course, there had to be gifts.
“I had baked a bunch of dog friendly snacks for them to have while they were there” Velline said, “and some dog biscuits for them to go home with.”
Each snack pack was decorated with a fun saying like “chow down.” She also bought dishes for each dog which she then decorated with their names, plus added a tennis ball and a poop bag to complete the gift baskets.
And no birthday party is complete without dessert.
“I baked a dog cake” she stated, “and then we had cupcakes and chips and water for the humans.”
And for the two doggies who live in Grand Marais and couldn’t make the party? Don’t worry, Velline had them covered too with their very own doggie bags and gift packages that were just recently mailed to them.
When asked how the doggies connected at the party, Velline had this to say,
“It was really fun to see their personalities. Some of them were out playing the whole time and running with the tennis balls and playing tug of war. And a bunch of other ones didn’t leave from underneath the picnic table, they just wanted food. It was so fun.”
Velline is more than just a dog lover, she aspires to be a veterinarian someday. Her experience over the last year has proven that she is up for the task.
Not only was Velline present for the birth of the puppies, she helped mom Trixie with some of the work.
On the day the puppies arrived Velline was luckily able to do school remotely so she could stay home and help with the delivery.
“When they’re born,” Velline said, “they’re in their little sack and the mother is supposed to chew through that and clean them up a little bit. And they can’t be in that sack for more than two minutes.”
So, when the first puppy was born Velline was there to make sure everything went smoothly.
But according to Velline, “Trixie is kind of lazy, and after the first one was born, she didn’t really know what to do so I don’t think that instinct totally kicked in for her right away.”
So just to be safe, Velline jumped in, and with the knowledge she obtained through her research, was able to help that first puppy out of the sack. And then, Trixie took over from there.
And that’s how it went for the remaining seven puppies that came after.
“We had kind of a system going” Velline said in regard to her and her dog Trixie.
It’s uncertain how long the doggie families will stay in contact with one another, but there is no doubt that this local teen has made a lasting impression on the community, and its four legged friends.
contributed photo
Saima Velline shows off her dog Trixie’s puppies shortly after they were born on March 16, 2021. Velline assisted with the delivery.
Saima Velline, 14, of St. Joseph serves cupcakes to the humans at puppy birthday party she planned for he dog’s puppies.
Saima Vellin, 14, of St. Joseph sets up the birthday treats and gifts she prepared for her dog Trixie’s puppies. Velline made a dog cake and variety of goodies for both dog and humans for this special day.
Family and friends joined at the Millstream dog park on March 20 to celebrate their dogs’ first birthdays. Gift baskets, treats and even a menu was all put in place by teen Saima Velline of St. Joseph.
Family and friends joined at the Millstream dog park on March 20 to celebrate their dogs’ first birthdays.
Mom Trixie patiently waits for her children to come join her at their first birthday party on March 20. The party was planned by Trixie’s owner Saima Velline from St. Joseph.
Delaney Kobienia, 12, takes a photo of her dog as she eats her birthday cake at the birthday party that was held at Millstream park.
Three sibling golden retrievers play around the Millstream dog park for their first birthday party on March 20. Saima Velline planned and hosted the party to get all her dog’s pups in one place again.
