Photo: courtesy Guide Dogs
Guide Dogsis handling a record-breaking level of cuteness.
The U.K.-based nonprofit, which breeds, raises, and trains service dogs to place with the visually impaired at no cost to the handler, recently welcomed their largest litter. In late 2021, Guide Dogs' three-year-oldGerman shepherdUnity gave birth to 16 healthy puppies.
As a first-time mom, Unity delivered a litter over twice the size of the average for German Shepherds, which is eight, according to theAmerican Kennel Club.The 16 puppies are also the largest litter born through the Guide Dogs' breeding program in its 60-year history.
“A litter of sixteen is incredibly unusual, but such a gift. The pandemic has had a detrimental impact on our charity’s breeding program and how many litters we can have, so these puppies are even more treasured,” Matthew Bottomley, Guide Dogs' head of breeding operations, said in a statement.
courtesy Guide Dogs
The pups aren’t purebred German shepherds like their mom, but instead, German shepherd/golden retrievermixes thanks to dad Trigger. Trigger is a 6-year-old golden retriever and Guide Dogs' most prolific stud, having sired close to 240 puppies. The nonprofit hopes that Unity and Trigger’s puppies will have the loyalty and drive of a German shepherd mixed with the friendliness and confidence of a golden retriever.
Now over eight weeks old, the puppies have left mom’s side to start the next step in their training.
“Our staff and volunteers have been working tirelessly to ensure all the puppies have thrived, and they are now ready to start their journeys to becoming life-changing guide dogs for people with sight loss,” Bottomley added in his statement.
To learn more about Guides Dogs' work and how to support the charity’s efforts,visit the nonprofit’s website.
source: people.com
