Happiness Is ...

HOHC Receives Extra-Special Delivery

When House of His Creation (HOHC) executive director Matthew Neff and his wife, HOHC house manager Callie Neff, considered whether to breed their dog, Maggie, with a friend's chocolate Labrador, they thought it would happen in early summer and that maybe they would have puppies in the ministry's location at 301 N. Broad St., Lititz in the fall of 2021. Maggie had other ideas.

Instead of early summer, Maggie was bred in late September. As a result, on Dec. 1, 2021, Maggie gave birth to seven live puppies - four males and three females. Six of the puppies are black and one is chocolate. Two-year-old Maggie, who came from a Lititz farm, is a mixture of German shepherd, blue heeler, and possibly some Labrador. Maggie looks much like a black Lab, and Matt mentioned that she has the webbed paws and gentle temperament associated with a retriever.

The Neffs have always advocated for the benefit of animals to the ministry, which provides women with a place to heal and grow through maternity and after. Maternity housing is available for women age 18 and up - especially women leaving abusive situations - who are in the first two trimesters of pregnancy.

"(Maggie) is our pet, and she is the house dog," explained Callie, who noted that the family has raised ducks, chickens, and goats, as well. "(Animals) bring an extra level of joy."

Currently, the Neffs also keep a somewhat cantankerous pug named Po at the house. "The pug is comic relief, and Maggie provides love," noted Matt.

By mid-December, the Neffs could identify the individual puppies by name - names based on appearance, behavior, and even birth order. "This little one is Runtie, and the one with the big face is Gigantor," said Callie, who noted her daughter named one puppy Goose because he sticks by Gigantor so closely. The pairing inspired comparisons to famous sidekicks, including Maverick and Goose from "Top Gun." Two of the puppies resemble their mother in that they have a white spot on their chests; the female is Little Maggie, and the male is Magnus. The single brown puppy is Brownie. The last puppy to be born is called Miracle Baby because Maggie began to give birth just after midnight. One of the puppies was stillborn, and Runtie made his appearance at 6 a.m. The Neffs suspected the birthing was complete, but at noon Miracle Baby arrived.

According to the Neffs, Michelle Gibbs, program director for HOHC, has been interacting with Maggie for two years and often remarked that if she could find a dog like her, she would get one. Gibbs will have first pick of the litter, followed by a number of others who have expressed serious interest in the puppies.

Considering Maggie's mixed breeding, the Neffs have come up with their own name for the type of dogs in the whelping box next to their bed. "We call them snuggle puppies," said Callie. "They are very loving."

Matt agreed. "Holding a puppy is like holding a baby," he said. "(When you hold one), life isn't so bad. (A puppy) is very therapeutic."

More information about HOHC may be found at http://www.hohc.org. Those with specific questions may email mail@hohc.org or call 717-626-0263.