Labrador rescued from 'death row' in Serbia shocked after she gives birth to 12 puppies

A British couple who saved an unwanted dog from 'death row' got more than they bargained for after she unexpectedly gave birth to 12 puppies.

Audrey Hampshire and partner Maynard Dockerty, from Weymouth, Dorset, agreed to rescue eight-month-old Boo after reading a post on Facebook which said she was waiting to be put down at a Serbian kennels.

Boo, believed to be a Labrador-retriever cross, was transported from the Balkans across Europe and given a new home with the couple in their three-bedroom house.

But the family were left shocked when she gave birth to a huge litter of puppies just weeks later, and heating engineer, Maynard, 51, has been off work, while Audrey, 52, had to stop her job as a school receptionist, so they have been able to provide round-the-clock care for the puppies.

Audrey Hampshire and partner Maynard Dockerty, from Weymouth, Dorset, who saved an unwanted dog Boo, seen, from 'death row' got more than they bargained for after she unexpectedly gave birth to 12 puppies

Recalling when they first noticed a difference in young Boo, Audrey and Maynard feared they were over-feeding Boo when she began piling on weight until a scan at the vets revealed she was pregnant with six puppies.

Weeks later Boo began giving birth but the puppies kept coming and coming, with the final count being a huge litter of 12.

Incredibly, all the black and white puppies survived, but with only ten teats on Boo her owners had to take it in shifts to make sure the extra two got enough milk.

And with both Audrey's daughters and their boyfriends living with them in their three-bedroom cottage during lockdown, conditions have been cramped.

Incredibly, all the black and white puppies survived, but with only ten teats on Boo her owners had to take it in shifts to make sure the extra two got enough milk

Eighteen-year-old daughter Georgia and her boyfriend Bryn, 22, and daughter Billie, 25, and her boyfriend Scott, 38, have all been able to lend a hand.

The puppies are now seven weeks old and will soon be going to new homes.

After posting pictures of their new arrivals on social media, they were inundated with requests from people wanting to take the puppies in.

With 70 offers they were able to be choose and make sure the puppies went to trusted people.

When they first noticed a difference in young Boo, Audrey and Maynard feared they were over-feeding Boo when she began piling on weight until a scan at the vets revealed she was pregnant

Weeks later Boo began giving birth but the puppies kept coming and coming, with the final count being a huge litter of 12 (seen)

The family are keeping one, Lola, the runt of the litter, with the rest going to close friends and family, who have helped cover the cost of food, inoculation and microchips.

Audrey said: 'We had three dogs, one was a labrador. She was only three but she had a degenerative disease and got really poorly. When she died it left a big hole in our hearts so we decided to rescue another dog.

'I found the charity on Facebook, they rescue dogs from kill pounds in Serbia. They treat dogs like vermin there, it's barbaric so we wanted to rescue one.

'We met the charity at Cobham motorway services in Surrey and collected Boo.

'She had never been in a house before, on a settee, on a lead. She hated cars, noise, roads, but loved us instantly as we did her.

Boo, believed to be a Labrador-retriever cross, was transported from the Balkans across Europe and given a new home with the couple in their three-bedroom house

After posting pictures of their new arrivals on social media, they were inundated with requests from people wanting to take the puppies in

The family are keeping one, Lola, the runt of the litter, with the rest going to close friends and family, who have helped cover the cost of food, inoculation and microchips

'But then she started getting fatter which we didn't mind as we were spoiling her. But after about six weeks we thought 'she's really getting big now' and her shape had changed.

'We thought she may have a phantom pregnancy but our vet did an ultrasound scan and said she was pregnant and thought there were six pups.

'I was in complete shock, none of us had any experience of dealing with pregnant dogs or puppies. She went into labour at 2am on May 3.

'It was really scary as it was just us, no vet. Myself, Maynard, my daughters were all hands-on midwives.

'The first one came out and it wasn't moving. Boo is only a baby herself and she cried out but she started moving and Boo cleaned it up and the puppies just kept coming.

'There were no stillborns, which was amazing, we were so relieved.

'But Boo only has ten teats and there are 12 puppies so we did shifts moving them around all the time and not going to bed to make sure all the puppies got enough milk.

'Lockdown puppies have been the most amazing and worrying experience in equal measures for us all, but one we will never forget.'

With 70 offers they were able to be choose and make sure the puppies went to trusted people