(Chicago, IL) --  A pregnant pit bull found Palm Sunday with burns to 25-percent of her body has died.  Mama Petunia passed away early Sunday morning.  Officials from "It's a Pittie" rescue say they are feeding the pups with a bottle and they should be adoptable in ten-weeks.

{from the Daily-Journal}

Mama Petunia, the burned and abused pit bull who found compassion once in the arms of local veterinarians and received an outpouring of affection from the community, died this morning, according to her Facebook page.

"At 5:15 am I crossed Rainbow Bridge (went home to be with the Lord). My heart stopped beating. The Doctors performed CPR and massaged my heart. My body was tired. My little body suffered major trauma and I stayed strong as long as I could," the post read.

The 3-year-old pit bull was brought in to the Animal Welfare Center in Monee on March 28 in critical shape and pregnant. She had gave birth to 10 puppies the next day, five stillborn.

But this week, she "had some setbacks," according to her first attending veterinarian Lynlee Wessels of the Animal Welfare Center. Those problems led to an emergency transfer to a specialty animal clinic in Aurora on Friday.

This morning, Petunia's Facebook page, which has more than 8,000 followers, read: "I felt the love that surrounded me and I got my babies to a safe place, I knew it was ok to let go. I am now free of pain and suffering and will be re-united with my 5 little ones that didn't make. Thank you for showing me love and compassion."

It's a Pittie rescue group in Peotone was the first to bring Petunia to the Monee clinic. Debbie Wilke, a volunteer and co-founder, said the group is tentatively planning a memorial event in her honor.

"I know she's only an animal but this has been devastating. We just want to do one more thing for her."

94.1 FM, WGFA