“Littermate Syndrome” refers to a series of behavioral problems that occur in puppies over the age of eight to 10 weeks, when the puppies are usually separated and placed in separate homes. Writing in a fundraiser for GoFundMe after the attack earlier this month, Felicity’s mother Michele Thomas said she was driving to a nearby supermarket in Onyx, California, when her husband called her. Ms Thomas said her husband told her on the phone that Felicity was found unconscious under a peach tree in the family garden with “possibly an missing eye” and other injuries. She was rushed to a nearby hospital with “muscle damage to her face, arms and legs that will require a lot of surgery and a long hospital stay,” her mother said. “Her ears will also need multiple reconstructive surgeries.” Ms Thomas added in another statement that “the condition of her left side remains unknown” and that many more surgeries are needed. Ms Thomas said she believed the “birth syndrome” was behind the aggression shown by the four puppies, who had shown no signs of dangerous behavior before the attack. Felicity is recovering in hospital, in a photo shared by her family (Michele Thomas / Linnea Hooker / GoFundMe) “We had the puppies for three weeks and they never gave us any reason not to allow our children to play with them,” Thomas wrote. “Littermate syndrome can affect dogs of ANY SEWING and often causes aggression in breeds that are usually not prone to aggressive behaviors,” he continued. “Even experienced guide dog breeders are not expected to be able to prevent this problem from developing.” Felicity’s mother said in a warning to other families: “Unfortunately most people have never heard of birth syndrome. they only find out when they are investigating their dogs’ problem behaviors or they find out tragically when it is too late “. The family was getting ready for an upcoming party when Felicity apparently broke up with her siblings who “were all out as a family doing chores in the yard to get ready” and had gone inside with their father. The family’s four puppies, who were several weeks old, were also outside in the family garden where Felicity was apparently attacked, her mother explained to a GoFundMe. The money raised will be donated to Felicity’s healthcare, her family said.
