Dr. Fiona Hillenbrand of the Pendleton Veterinary Clinic said shed never done a cesarean section on a stray dog until Tuesday afternoon.

But with the life of Brenda, a black and white Chihuahua mix, and her eight unborn puppies on the line, Hillenbrand sprung into action and saved the nine lives.

The Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter is now responsible for the four female and four male puppies until they find a home.

Jeff Forbes of Stanfield found the dog on his way to work Monday, July 30 near the Pendleton Grain Growers tower on Feedville Road. Forbes tried in vain to catch the dog and noticed she was pregnant. He returned twice a day to give the dog food and water until Saturday when his wife, Brenda Forbes, urged him to rescue the animal.

We knew that with the way the weather was, we needed to catch her, Jeff Forbes said.

The couple contacted Sherry Zweig with the Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter on Saturday to ask for help. After volunteers tried for several hours in the afternoon heat to catch the dog, Jeff Forbes returned with a trap and lured the canine in with food. Sherry Zweig then took the dog to PAWS in Pendleton.

Poor little thing just covered in ants and fleas and everything, said Robin Barker of Hermiston, another volunteer who helped rescue the dog. And you know this is a huge dumping ground for animals. Shes just lucky that we were able to find her.

Barker said Zweig footed the $700 operation bill, but is asking the public to send donations to Zweig or PAWS to offset the pricey procedure. Barker said Brenda and her pups will likely need foster care until they find permanent homes, a service which is in high demand in Eastern Oregon. She said the area has so many abandoned cats and dogs, the shelters often dont have enough space to house them all.

The issue has escalated because of the down economy, Barker said, and the cost of spaying and neutering, which ranges from $100 to $200, deters people from providing the procedures for their animals. Barker said Eastern Oregon needs more people to offer foster care until the shelters can find homes for the animals, even if for a couple weeks.

Anyone who wants to help should contact their local shelter, she said. Those who can no longer afford to keep their pets should call the police or local shelter to take them.

Dont just dump them on the road, Baker said. Its really cruel.

Contact Chris Rizer at crizer@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0836.