Bess’s first lucky break was when she was found walking on the streets of Tennessee also and she was rescued by Vyolet Jean Savage, one of the caregivers. Things started looking up for her from that point on and help came just at the right time because she could really use an extra pair of hands, or 12 pairs of hands, to be exact because she was pregnant!
Did you know that the average size of a puppy litter is between 6 and 8? Bess went way over the limit, but the more, the merrier. However, being pregnant with 12 pups is not without its challenges. Giving birth to an average-size litter is difficult enough, so Bess’s experience was going to be even more difficult.
Giving Birth Is Never Easy
As fate would have it, Bess would have a harder time than anyone could guess. Why? Because Burrdie, one of her pups, blocked the birth canal for many hours. Vyolet remembered that when the doctors told her the news, they said that were was a chance that not all puppies would make it.
Once all the puppies came, the staff at the vet’s realized they were biting a lot more than they could chew, so they called for help. Luckily, they had an entire squad of volunteers at their disposal and they were ready to help. The kindhearted volunteers worked in shifts for weeks to help Bess.
Everyone was working around the clock to provide Bess and her pups with the care they needed. They were all well-monitored, so every day they got healthier and stronger. All 12 puppies developed without a hiccup and not one of them experienced any complications after birth; they held on to life and never let go.
The only pup in the litter that gave anyone any doubt was Burrdie. He had the most difficult time entering the world, so he needed special attention. The volunteers provided him with extra milk and extra attention. They also gave her a pink ribbon, which was wrapped around her neck, to distinguish her from all the other pups.
Moving Forward
Bess was a naturally nurturing and sweet momma dog. She was very patient and gentle with all of her pups, she acted like the perfect mom. Even when everyone could tell how tired she was, she wanted to know where her pups were and if she heard them making any type of sound, she immediately paid attention.
In situations like these, when the litter is weaned and the puppies are ready to be put up for adoption, they get adopted very quickly. However, in this case, things happened very differently. Bess was the first one to get adopted into a loving home! She was chosen by Susan Zaleski and her family, who said it was love at first sight.
From the moment they laid eyes on Bess, they knew they wanted to bring her home. They recognized Bess’s motherly instinct and they describe her as a four-legged nanny. Given that she just had a litter of 12 puppies, it’s no wonder that Susan and her family immediately realized how great Bess’s mother instinct was.
When they took Bess to her new home, she settled in and started to bond with her human sisters. Soon enough, Bess started to feel responsible for them and shower them with love. On the other hand, Bess’s puppies were adopted by friends and family of the Stewarts’, so, unbeknownst to Bess, they were never too far away.
A Beautiful Reunion
If you have a large family, you already have a pretty good idea of how difficult it is to get everyone together. However, 10 months after Bess and her puppies were separately adopted, momma dog got a beautiful reunion with her babies and they were all together once more to celebrate the puppies’ first birthday.
It was a lovely occasion and it warms the heart to think of how happy Bess was to see her puppies. They were all strong, healthy, loved, and well-taken care of by their new families. When Bess saw them for the first time in 10 months and recognized them, she almost pills the leash out of her owner’s hands trying to get to reach them all as fast as possible.
If you want to see this emotional, beautiful moment in Bess’s life and that of her puppies, click on the video below! It’s truly heartwarming to see them all sniff each other and wag their tails in excitement as they come together again after so long. The special bond between Bess and Burrdie is particularly noticeable!
This is the perfect example that a mother’s love is forever and it knows no bounds. Share Bess’s story to spread some kindness and remind people how rewarding it can be to help a dog in need. Also, spread gratitude for adoptive families like the Stewarts’ who take such good care of their dogs and inspire others to become dog owners as well to make a difference.
Becoming a dog owner is not easy, especially not if you’re adopting. Every dog is unique and they have unique needs, but they all have tremendous love to give and they’re some of the kindest creatures on earth. It’s truly a joy to watch them grow and enjoy the many different ways they return all the love you give them