Stef -- they will try to sneak to have the pups alone -- someone needs to be with her ALL the time (and keep her gated in the room with the whelping box so she *can't* sneak off).
The girls who have had pups will be along to help you (and I'm gonna email Glenda and Gina).
On the other end -- $15 *at least* -- because if someone isn't willing to put ANY money into getting a puppy then they won't *ever* be willing to take that pup to the vet and have it spayed/neutered, etc.
Get IN WRITING that people will spay/neuter.
Call around to various counties and see if any of them have low-cost spay/neuter programs (call your local animal control and ASK) -- and you can then tell folks to go get it done when the pups are 8 weeks old -- or you can make it part of the adoption fee because you really **should NOT** place them prior to that. In fact, in most every single state in the United States it is actually illegal to place pups prior to 8 weeks of age (they need ALL that time with their litter mates to enforce good bite inhibition and for proper development, and they need to *not* be vax'd prior to 8 weeks).
That way you can give adopters an information packet and I'd have them sign a contract **with you** stating where/when they'll get them spayed/neutered and that if they ever decide they can't/won't keep the pup it will come back to YOU for placement (rather than winding up on death row somewhere).
NOW is a really good time to take your kids to the local Animal Control -- let them see what it's like for a dog who gets dumped vs. what *you* are trying to do in being responsible and ensuring that the pups get really GOOD homes. (you rock, by the way -- we all learn by our mistakes and the fact that you're willing to do the right thing is the best example you can be to your kids!!)
These are life lessons -- but they ARE hard ones because this is more work than you have any idea you've bitten off. Because it's not just "having puppies" (which is a ton and a half of work) -- but you gotta get X no. of squirmy, cute, poopy, pee-everywhere, rambunctious puppies reared to an appropriate age to place - you gotta BEGIN as soon as weaned, to teach them how to go *outside* to potty, and all that good junk.
But this is the same time you teach your kids "You know -- we ALL screw up in life -- and THEN we gotta do the *right* things to get ourselves out of trouble -- so please don't ever be afraid to come to me and own up to doing something stellarly stupid ... I may not be happy, and you may get grounded or something, BUT we will figure out the right thing to do, we WILL work together because we're a family and families take care of each other **just** like we're going to take care of Feora and her puppies."
And you can come here and whine, moan and vet and we'll all help prop you up. *Because* you are doing the right thing and you've learned your lesson.
Lots of people choose to wait to spay a pup until 1st or 2d heat for growth reasons, but it's inherent in that to prevent an oops litter. You guys are responsible enough to deal (and everything Spiritdogs said about new puppies then making it so older dogs don't get adopted is, unfortunately, true cos everyone LOVES puppies).
HOWEVER -- you really can *not* trust anyone who adopts to spay/neuter just on their own. Times are hard for a lot of folks, and it's just too easy to let it slide. Speuter at 8 weeks may not be the optimum choice for a lot of people BUT it can truly be the responsible decision for all. Then you don't wind up getting one of these pups back in 10-12 months **pregnant** herself.
So ask around about contracts and what to say and do. Even if you figure in the cost of a low-cost spay/neuter at 8 weeks and have people pick them up the day you get them back from the speuter -- then you can rest easy knowing that some of Feora's pups don't continue to make more and more puppies that will wind up on death row. If she has 8 puppies and each of those procreates 8 more puppies .... in a year's time that's a huge number.
That's what I mean about it being such an awesome opportunity to teach your own kids how one small moment in time -- one *small* oops opportunity, then has such incredibly far-reaching potential. On the other end of this (like in 10 years) I'm betting you will look back on this as one of the best life lessons in "CYA" that you can ever give to your own children.
When I was 19 I pulled a little pom/peke mix literally **off the road** in front of my parents house. She was about 6 months old. She was heavy with MILK. Some idiot drowned her puppies and dumped her out of a moving car. I took to have her spayed 3 weeks later (milk dried up, looked back to normal) and the vet was absolutely flummoxed because she WAS only about 6 months old and was at least 3 weeks post birth but she didn't even have her adult teeth yet. He confirmed she wasn't a day over 6 1/2 months old at that time.
She changed MY Life. I've cried many tears over those sweet pups who were killed. But oh the lessons I learned from her. 37 years later I still tear up thinking of those poor wee pups (and how much I wish she'd lived forever).
Steph -- good for you. I'm sorry you've felt depressed about this -- but you'll turn this to gold in "life lessons". And your kids will always remember Feora -- even when they are MY age. If you can feel this (((hug))) that's me.
And see if your local library has Giffen and Carlson's "Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook -- it's got an awesome chapter on birthing and directions for an easy whelping box to make (you need the box - not just blankets) -- you'll need to contain the pups too -- but the girls who have done puppies can help you on that better than anyone else.