Would Love Some Advice

If you want to get rid of the lady without feeling like your being mean(even though she deserves it) just say all the puppies are already taken and then ignore any further emails or attempts to contact you.  She'll likely fade away into the background without you having to deal with her getting too upset with you.  She sounds like one of those people I wouldn't want to have any future conversations with anyway.  Done it actually. [:-]  The person knew other people I still had to continue dealing with so I didn't want to set her off.
 
I would register the puppies but with a neuter contract.  They don't get papers without neutering first and you can ask for a neuter deposit that is returned along with the papers when you receive proof of neutering.  I don't really see any reason why not to register them so long as they are not going to be used as future breeding stock but only kept as pets.  Some people want purebred registered pets.  Doesn't it also allow the people who might want to show them even neutered a few more possibilities?  I don't get into showing much and even then I find performance more interesting than handling or obedience type classes but I do know people who want netuered animals to use as both pets and novice shows just as something fun to do with their animals.

You can register the pups with limited registration.  That means none of their offspring can be registered.  But, I would not even release these papers to the new owners until the pups are spay/neutered.  What registry is it with?  If it isn't AKC/UKC/CanKC, its probably pointless because none of the others have performance events that their dogs can compete in.  As for the old owner wanting a pup, I would say "You did not care for Reesee properly and she was infested with fleas!  Then you gave her up because you didn't "connect."  What makes you think you will connect with one of her offspring.  You also sold her without telling me you knew she was bred.  That is very irresponsible, and I don't sell to irresponsible owners."  Its all the truth.

NC_cockermama, welcome to i-dog!  [sm=welcome2.gif]
 
Thank you for loving Reesee and taking care of her three little baby boys.  I certainly would not give a puppy to people who
(1)  allow a dog to get so pest infested or
(2)  basically dump a dog after carelessly letting her get pregnant.
 
Sorry you got the unexpected work of dealing with puppies, but I am very glad that they are in the hands of a responsible owner.  If you have a chance, the members of this forum love puppy pictures.   
 
I agree with Glenda - please, please do not vaccinate at 6 weeks.  Eight weeks is the very earliest.  Research is showing shots at 6 weeks actually delay the development of effective disease resistance. 
 
Parvo and distemper are the only vaccines that puppies really need initially.  Waiting until 9-10 weeks is usually OK as long as you keep them away from sick dogs or homes/ground where a Parvo dog has been in the past 2 years.  Other desired vaccines can be selectively given later when sure to be effective.  Assaulting a pup's immune system with big combo vaccines is frankly just for owner convenience.
 
Below are links to help you understand puppy shots, the latest vaccine recommendations, and the safest way to spay a female who has had puppies.
 
Understanding puppy shots: 
http://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/46/121233.html#POST405242 
 
My suggested way of doing vaccines:
http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=326568 
 
Dr. Rogers's chart on vaccines and the duration of immunity:
http://www.critteradvocacy.org/Canine%20Vaccination%20Guidlines.htm 
 
Here are some suggestions on how to get a very safe spay.
http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=302576

How soon to spay after a heat:
http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=302593

Who says you have to be nice. Maybe telling her honestly how you feel and why you have no intention of giving her a puppy just might wake her up to what she has done. It is suprising how many people there are out there that have no problem with selling, giving or dumping their dogs for no good reason and thinking it is okay.

You are an absolutely wonderful person.  I can't even imagine your stress.  I would suggest caution in registering these pups, because you can't be sure what she was actually bred with.  This lady seems incredibly irresponsible, so there is the possibility that she came into contact with another dog.  Good luck with everything.  You are an angel.

i wouldnt tell her anything. i wouldnt reply back to her email, what a .... grrr... jerk .... to assume she has any right to feel any affection to those puppies.
why does she feel affection? not because of Reesee, but because of THEIR dog. they dont give two flips that Reesee went through pain and suffering... they just know that their dog is a daddy and they want one of HIS puppies.... the mother has nothing to do with it.
just delete their emails and break contact. that's the easiest way. you dont owe them a puppy, a visit OR an explaination.

acesmom

No way should that irrisponsible woman get one of the pups -- sounds to me like she KNEW the dog was or could be pregnant, and she didn't want the hassle or expense of going through the whelping, so she passed her along to you to do all the difficult, exensive stuff and now she wants a perfect little puppy.

I think this gives the woman more credit than she deserves.    I think Reesee was outside all the time (no wonder she didn't connect with the family) and the woman had no idea that the dog had even gone into heat let alone was pregnant.
 
I would just tell the woman that all the pups are spoken for.  It might feel good to tell her off, but it probably wouldn't do any good and you don't want her letting her kid(s) call you and beg for a pup. 
 

meilani

The best way to guarantee that they'll be neutered is to pick a vet who will do an early neuter at a reasonable price and explain to potential owners that part of their purchase price is going to the neuter of the pup.

Personally, I don't like the idea of a very early spay/neuter unless absolutely necessary.  Some vets won't even do them.  The early neuter could even mean an additional surgery for the pup since vets often use the neuter as an opportunity to take care of baby teeth that didn't come out on their own.
 
Shelters just don't have the personnel to follow up on spay/neuter contracts, but 3 pups shouldn't be too hard.  If the contract specifies that ownership of the pup reverts to you if the pup isn't neutered by a particular age and you are holding a deposit, most people will get the surgery done.  Of course, the contract should specify that a vet could delay the neuter for medical reasons (e.g. an undescended testicle).

crazy_pixie_

This lady seems incredibly irresponsible, so there is the possibility that she came into contact with another dog.

This is a very good point since Reesee was outside.  Male dogs could have come over the fence and left the same way without anyone noticing.  If you do decide to do a limited registration on the pups, do you have the proper information on the woman's male?

DumDog-
I just want to say that the picture in your signature cracks me up! [sm=rotfl.gif]

Since the owner of the sire has to sign off on any litter application (forgive me if I'm wrong, I only checked the AKC registration FAQ on their site), I don't think you'll be able to register the litter- I bet she'll demand a puppy in 'payment' for signing off on the litter. So I wouldn't bother.

I generally don't support early spay/neuter, but in the case of rescues, I'd rather it get done early than not get done at all.

Those are good points that Janet Rose and Pwca brought up. The lady's Cocker may not even be the father of the puppies and if he was, you would need his paperwork to register the puppies. I really wouldn't bother. I would ask a reasonable adoption fee for the puppies (maybe $150 with $50 refundable after proof of spay or neuter?).

Anyway, it's a great thing that you did taking Reese in and giving her a great home.[]I would love to see pics of her and the puppies!

ORIGINAL: Pwca

Since the owner of the sire has to sign off on any litter application (forgive me if I'm wrong, I only checked the AKC registration FAQ on their site), I don't think you'll be able to register the litter- I bet she'll demand a puppy in 'payment' for signing off on the litter. So I wouldn't bother.

I generally don't support early spay/neuter, but in the case of rescues, I'd rather it get done early than not get done at all.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that.  I also wasn't thinking about her being outside and being in contact with other males...its been a long day!  I wouldn't bother with the registration at all. 

DumDog-
I just want to say that the picture in your signature cracks me up!

thankya []

ORIGINAL: ColleenC
  I wouldn't bother with the registration at all. 

i wouldnt either. registering them is pointless unless you plan to actually do something with them like breeding, showing, competitions.... and its a high probability that they wont be doing the first two... and only a small chance with the last one... and you dont NEED to be registered to AKC to do that anyway.
i say save your money, dont register them, and just put that cash towards something practical.... like puppy snacks and toys!!

....oh i would so keep all of those puppies AND the mom....

I actually think that assuming this woman wants a puppy because its sire MAY be her dog (and I wouldn't even take her word on that) is even giving her too much credit.  She's excited about the puppy because it's a puppy and puppies=cute.  IMO, her neglect of Reese borders on abuse.  How dare she even ask?!

I'm so glad you and Reese found each other.  Here's hoping each of the puppies finds as good a home as she already has with you. <3

ORIGINAL: GraniasBard

I actually think that assuming this woman wants a puppy because its sire MAY be her dog (and I wouldn't even take her word on that)

true we cant take the origional owners word for it but if she is that neglectful with Reesee then there is a good chance that she assumes that no other dog could have gotten to Reese EXCEPT her dog.
i would guess that she bred them on purpose but she didnt know the gestational period for puppies, got tired of waiting on no results.. and got rid of the dog too soon. a month after getting the dog.. it has puppies...
you dont have an intact dog and bitch without expecting SOME kind of results....
so like i said.. i think this person had plans for puppies, but didnt do her homework, then decided to dump the dog since it wasnt preggo anyway.... but was elated to find out she actually DID have puppies.... a get rich quick scheme gone wrong...
i still say ignore her.. forget she even exists and just make Reesee the happiest dog on the planet