When Marina was surrendered to Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center, she was about to burst. The sweet dog was incredibly pregnant, and even though the shelter was already crowded, everyone there was still excited to meet her puppies.
Not long after
she arrived, Marina gave birth to a shockingly large litter of 14 puppies.
“Everyone was shocked because it is [an] abnormally large litter and that they all lived is a living miracle,” Lauren Anton, founder of Saving Hope Rescue, told The Dodo.
The shelter was thrilled for Mama Marina, but they were also worried. They didn’t have the resources to care for such a large family. They put out a call asking for a rescue to take them all in so they could get the care they deserved, and Saving Hope Rescue stepped up.
As Marina and her puppies left the shelter, the babies were wheeled on a cart inside a crate while their mom walked beside them. She wasn’t looking where she was going or paying attention to anything around her. Her eyes were locked on her puppies, making sure they were OK with every step she took.
Marina’s new carers got her and her puppies situated in one of the rescue’s puppy pods, spaces designed specifically for new families with heat, air conditioning, music, video cameras and access to an outdoor space. The doting mom settled herself in and continued caring for her family.
The rescue named the puppies using an ocean theme: Triton, Caspian, Reef, Cove, Minnie, Finn, Marlin, Tide, Nemo, Poseidon, Ariel, Oceans, Pearl and Coral. It’s been two weeks since they arrived at Saving Hope Rescue, and everyone is so impressed with how well they’re all doing.
“A few of the puppies struggled at first with feeding because there were more puppies than nipples, but they are strong like their momma and pulled through,” Anton said. “We have saved over 20,000 animals and this is by far the largest litter we have saved.”
Marina just needed someone to take a chance on her and her extra-large family. Now they’re all thriving and can’t wait to eventually find their forever homes.
