siblings

Question
i recently rescued a dachshund (Olivia).  the woman giving up Olivia said that she just got her 3 days prior.  none of her shots were administered yet, no vet visit, and she had not been speed yet.  the woman was eager to get rid of Olivia, because she witnessed her hung up with her own brother.  the adoption agency said that there was a likeliness that she could be pregnant. She allowed me to adopt her, because she seen that my ability to get Olivia to the vet for a spay surgery was much sooner than she could.  she emphasized the grave importance of getting her fixed (and possibly having the pups aborted) now. why is this situation so serious?  if she is pregnant, can i wait until she gives birth before i get her fixed?  i hate that whole termination idea!!!!

Also, the adoption agency went ahead and administered all of her shots before we left with Olivia.  Could this cause her to miscarry the pups?  I have never had an animal that was not fixed.  she squats like she is having a bowel movement and pushes out this orangish/yellow slimy stuff when I take her out to use the bathroom.  She does not have the normal blood that everyone says a dog in season has. She does not whimper, lick herself, or "spot".  She just gets really sleepy and loveable.  Not sure what to do.  

My intent is to have her fixed and I had the surgery scheduled.  my vet said that if she is pregnant at the time of the surgery, the fee will increase from $123 to $332.  I can not afford that.  why can she not have her pups?  are they guaranteed to be deformed?

Answer
Many people, including me, are very concerned that we are slaughtering millions of dogs every year for lack of homes.  Such accidental breedings are a big part of the problem.  The shelters try to cope with an endless number of dogs often lacking the resources to do the job.  I can't condemn the staff for what they are telling you.  Likely your vet is giving you more objective advice.  I would go ahead and let her have the litter.  They may or may not have problems.  Do what you can on finding homes.

Read, read, read.  Get some books from the library.  Check http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/articles.html#breeding  Whelping puppies is a tough job to do right.  I have helped my friends at times, mostly being trusted to do little more than cuddle puppies to warm them up after they were bathed.

It is great that we have people like you willing to take on somebody else's neglect and do what is best for the abused dog.  The back of my hand to the lady that allowed it to happen.