Marrissa Baker was shocked when she checked on her pregnant American Chocolate Labrador Retriever, called Tikka, on the morning of Sept. 19.
Baker, who lives in Duncan, said as this is Tikka鈥檚 first pregnancy, she expected that she might have just three to five puppies.
But there were 14 little bundles of canine joy crawling all over Tikka taking their turns nursing on Saturday morning.
鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy,鈥� said Baker, a mother of four toddlers who is pregnant with her fifth child.
鈥淚鈥檓 a stay-at-home mom, but between looking after my four kids and now all these puppies, I鈥檓 run off my feet. We鈥檝e never bred dogs before so this is whole new experience for the family. The kids love it though and have already named each of the puppies.鈥�
Sadly, one of the puppies died unexpectedly just two days after its birth.
Incredibly, Baker said the father of the puppies, a stud English Labrador Retriever named Duke, also recently fathered another litter of Labrador Retrievers on Salt Spring Island that numbered 14 as well, although three died within days of their birth.
She said her husband, Steve, checked to see what the record is for litters of Labrador retrievers, and discovered on the internet that a six-year-old named Bella also had 14 pups just last May, and it was heralded as one of the biggest litters of Labs ever.
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鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of interest in people wanting to buy the puppies once they are old enough to be taken away from Tikka, but only one has been spoken for so far,鈥� Baker said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e allowing those who want to buy one to pick them out when they are five weeks old, and they can take them home when they鈥檙e eight weeks old. We may keep one for ourselves.鈥�
Until then, Baker said her husband Steve will have to set up a play area for the puppies on the family鈥檚 two-and-a-half-acre property.
鈥淚 expect we鈥檒l all be kept busy for awhile with all these puppies,鈥� she said.
鈥淏ut I鈥檓 afraid the kids won鈥檛 want to give them up when it鈥檚 time for them to go.鈥�
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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