Probably what happened was that her puppies were sold or given away, it's easier to get rid of puppies than adult dogs.
My daughter has a gorgeous Boxer she found on the side of a road in Texas. Sammy was about 3 months old and starving, so of course she picked him up. She held him so he would eat enough, and now at about 70 pounds or more the big baby still wants to sit in the chair with mommy when she is reading.
No one ever came forth to claim him, so he lives with 2 other rescue dogs in the house most of the time. DD is very glad to have him right now, her DH retired from Army and is getting a higher degree at a far away University so what sounds like a pack of big wolves are good to have around at night.