Dog lover's 'deluge' of cute pups

A dog lover, Louise Rogers, heard the patter of eighty tiny feet in the space of a week after both her pet labradors gave birth to a giant joint litter of twenty puppies.

By Andrew Hough
Published: 9:00AM BST 03 May 2010

Mrs Rogers, a teacher from Newchurch, Powys, had only planned one litter for seven-year-old Birdie but her stud dog Zak also liked her daughter, Betty.

The result left both dogs expecting after his week-long stay.

Betty had the first litter of eleven in early March and four days later Birdie followed suit with nine more making the total up to a round 20.

Zak, a black Labrador, stayed with the family over Christmas and New Year but at first blush failed to perform his stud dog duties.

But a month later Mr Rogers spotted Birdies swollen tum and the couple soon realised she too was expecting pups.

The 41 year-old, who also farms sheep with husband Clive, said: "We've got over 2000 ewes and we knew the pups would be arriving right in the middle of lambing season.

"We had no idea what we were letting ourselves in for its been emotional.

"He spent the first three days lying on his back in front of the fire with his crown jewels on display."

She added: "Then he seemed to find his mojo and went to Betty a few times.

"I'd wanted him to go to Birdie, but no matter it looked like disaster had been averted, so Zak went back to his owner.

"Sometimes I wonder how weve got through it its been a challenge, to say the least."

She said they "made a fair old racket at first", forcing her to check on them every few hours.

All but four pups have been found homes, and eight have already gone to their new owners.

But the 12 remaining dogs have huge diets that has seen her shopping bill significantly rise.

On top of chicken, minced meat and puppy food, they get through 30 eggs, a family pack of Weetabix, six pints of milk and ten tins of rice pudding every day.

"I like to send them off with a varied diet so they dont get tummy upsets in their new homes."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/pets/7668872/Pictured-Dog-lover-deluged-with-20-joint-litter-of-cute-pups.html