Pregnant Dog Raises An Incredible Amount of Puppies | The Dodo Foster Diaries
When Carter Cifelli agreed to foster a pregnant dog, she had no idea what she was getting into. But as soon as Pebbles, a sweet and affectionate Labrador mix, arrived at her home in North Carolina, she knew she was in for a wild ride.
At first, Pebbles seemed like any other expectant mother: she was relaxed, happy, and content to curl up on the couch with her new family. But as the hours passed, something strange began to happen. Pebbles started pacing around the room, panting heavily, and whining in a way that made Carter nervous.
“I knew she was in labor,” Carter recalls. “But I didn’t know how many puppies she was going to have.”
As it turns out, Pebbles had a lot of puppies. A lot more than anyone could have anticipated.
Over the course of the next few hours, Pebbles gave birth to not one, not two, but thirteen puppies – all healthy, happy, and hungry for milk. And despite the chaos and exhaustion of the moment, Carter couldn’t help but feel amazed by what she was witnessing.
“It was incredible,” she says. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
For the next few weeks, Carter and her family devoted themselves to caring for Pebbles and her growing brood. They fed them, cleaned them, and played with them, watching as each puppy grew bigger and more independent with every passing day.
And while the work was hard and often overwhelming, Carter says it was also incredibly rewarding.
“It was a lot of work, but it was worth it,” she says. “To know that we were helping these puppies grow up healthy and happy was an amazing feeling.”
Today, all thirteen of Pebbles’ puppies have found loving homes of their own, thanks to the tireless efforts of Carter and the team at Saving Grace NC, the animal rescue organization that helped bring Pebbles into their care.
And though Pebbles has since moved on to a new foster home, she’ll always hold a special place in Carter’s heart – and in the hearts of everyone who witnessed her incredible journey from pregnant stray to proud mama.
“She was such a good dog,” Carter says. “We’re so glad we were able to help her and her puppies.”