Annie the dog’s Lab-our of love

DONALD KELLY, from Campbeltown, has owned Labradors for more than 40 years.

He’s seen a few litters in his time but nothing could prepare him for his threeyear-old Lab, Annie’s.

When the time came for the birth the result caught everyone by surprise.

An earlier trip to the vets had suggested Annie would give birth to six pups.

But when the first newborn arrived on a Thursday at 7.30pm, it was the beginning of a long night.

Donald sat, bleary-eyed, and watched as one pup followed another . . . and another . . . and another.

By 3am, and at pup number 14, Donald made sure the new mum and the pups were okay and went to bed, believing the birth was finally over.

But his wife woke him at 6.30am to tell him she’d just done a head count — and there were 15!

Three weeks on and not only is Annie recovering well from her exhausting night, but all 15 pups are growing stronger and stronger.

Donald says the vet has never known anything like it.

The new additions have become a full-time job for Donald and his family. They’ve been bottle feeding each of the pups, which will be Kennel Club registered.

And Annie is eating them out of house and home.

She’s wolfing down 12 tins of dog food a day, as well as dry food and milk, cream and cheese.

We reckon she deserves it after such a ruff night!