This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-44292506
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 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. | 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 and hearing-impaired as well as for mental health and seizure alerts. | Service animals are trained to assist people with disabilities, including guide dogs for the blind and hearing-impaired as well as for mental health and seizure alerts. |
| 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. |