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Service dog gives birth to eight pups in Florida airport | Service dog gives birth to eight pups in Florida airport |
(35 minutes later) | |
A US service dog unexpectedly gave birth to eight puppies in the middle of the Tampa International Airport, just before her owners boarded their flight. | A US service dog unexpectedly gave birth to eight puppies in the middle of the Tampa International Airport, just before her owners boarded their flight. |
Eleanor 'Ellie' Rigby, a two-year-old yellow Labrador who serves as a guide dog, delivered the pups with the help of Tampa Fire Rescue's medical team. | |
Her owners knew she was pregnant, but did not realise how close she was to going into labour. | Her owners knew she was pregnant, but did not realise how close she was to going into labour. |
Ellie and father Nugget are now parents to seven males and one female pup. | Ellie and father Nugget are now parents to seven males and one female pup. |
Service animals are trained to assist people with disabilities, including guide dogs for the blind, hearing dogs, seizure alert dogs and mental health service dogs. | |
An airport spokesperson told Fox 13 that Ellie and Nugget's owners, a woman and her daughter, were set to board their flight to Philadelphia with the two service dogs when Ellie went into labour. | An airport spokesperson told Fox 13 that Ellie and Nugget's owners, a woman and her daughter, were set to board their flight to Philadelphia with the two service dogs when Ellie went into labour. |
The family - and their eight new additions - missed their flight. | The family - and their eight new additions - missed their flight. |
Ellie successfully delivered her puppies amid a crowd of onlookers and with a little help from Tampa Fire Rescue staff Larry Glanton and Natalie Brown. | Ellie successfully delivered her puppies amid a crowd of onlookers and with a little help from Tampa Fire Rescue staff Larry Glanton and Natalie Brown. |
You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
Airport officials posted on Twitter: "Ruff day for this mama at Gate F80!" | Airport officials posted on Twitter: "Ruff day for this mama at Gate F80!" |
The surprise delivery ended with applause and barks in the concourse. | The surprise delivery ended with applause and barks in the concourse. |
The family and all 10 dogs will be driving all 1,000 miles (1600km) from Tampa to Philadelphia instead, the Miami Herald reported. | The family and all 10 dogs will be driving all 1,000 miles (1600km) from Tampa to Philadelphia instead, the Miami Herald reported. |