Bess got her first break when she was discovered walking on the streets of Tennessee and was rescued by Vyolet Jean Savage, one of the caregivers. Things began to look up for her after that, and help arrived just in time because she could use an extra pair of hands, or 12 pairs of hands, to be exact, because she was pregnant!
Did you know that the average puppy litter size is between 6 and 8 puppies? Bess overstepped her bounds, but the more the merrier. Being pregnant with 12 puppies, on the other hand, is not without its difficulties. Giving birth to a normal-sized litter is difficult enough, so Bess's experience would be even more so.
It is never easy to give birth.
As fate would have it, Bess would have a much more difficult time than anyone could have predicted. Why? Because one of her pups, Burrdie, blocked the birth canal for several hours. Vyolet remembered the doctors telling her that there was a chance that not all of the puppies would survive.
When all of the puppies arrived, the vet's staff realized they were biting far more than they could chew, so they called for assistance. Fortunately, they had an entire squad of volunteers at their disposal who were eager to assist. For weeks, the generous volunteers worked in shifts to assist Bess.
Everyone was working around the clock to make sure Bess and her pups were taken care of. They were all closely monitored, so they got healthier and stronger every day. All 12 puppies developed normally, and none of them had any complications after birth; they clung to life and never let go.
Burrdie was the only puppy in the litter who raised any concerns. He had the most difficult time adjusting to life, so he required special care. Extra milk and extra attention were given to him by the volunteers. They also gave her a pink ribbon to wear around her neck to distinguish her from the other puppies.
Taking the Next Step
Bess was a naturally nurturing and affectionate mother dog. She was very patient and gentle with all of her puppies, acting like the ideal mother. Even though everyone could tell she was tired, she wanted to know where her puppies were, and if she heard them making any kind of noise, she paid close attention.
In situations like these, when the litter is weaned and the puppies are ready for adoption, they are quickly adopted. However, things went very differently in this case. Bess was the first to be adopted and placed in a loving home! Susan Zaleski and her family chose her, claiming it was love at first sight.
They knew they wanted to bring Bess home the moment they laid eyes on her. They recognized Bess's maternal instincts and referred to her as a four-legged nanny. Given that she had just given birth to a litter of 12 puppies, it's no surprise that Susan and her family immediately recognized Bess's superior maternal instinct.
When they brought Bess to her new home, she quickly settled in and began to bond with her human sisters. Bess soon began to feel responsible for them and showered them with love. Bess' puppies, on the other hand, were adopted by friends and family of the Stewarts, so they were never far away, unbeknownst to Bess.
A Lovely Reunion
If you have a large family, you already know how difficult it is to get everyone together. However, ten months after Bess and her puppies were adopted separately, momma dog had a beautiful reunion with her babies, and they were all together again to celebrate the puppies' first birthday.
It was a lovely occasion, and it warms my heart to think of Bess's joy at seeing her puppies. Their new families had raised them to be strong, healthy, loved, and well-cared for. When Bess saw them for the first time in 10 months and recognized them, she almost ripped the leash from her owner's grip in an attempt to reach them all as soon as possible.
Click on the video below to see this emotional, beautiful moment in Bess's and her puppies' lives! It's truly heartwarming to see them all sniff each other and wag their tails in delight as they reunite after such a long time apart. Bess and Burrdie's special bond is especially noticeable!
This is the epitome of how a mother's love endures and knows no bounds. Share Bess's story to show people how rewarding it can be to help a dog in need. Also, express gratitude to adoptive families like the Stewarts for taking such good care of their dogs, and encourage others to become dog owners in order to make a difference.