Irish Setter gives birth to 15 puppies on Mother’s Day

A dog has given birth to fifteen puppies in what turned out to be a special Mother’s Day.

Poppy, an Irish Setter, was due to give birth to an estimated eight to 10 pups, but owner Lisa Wardle could not believe her eyes when the tiny dogs just kept coming.

Lisa, 40, says that she plans on selling the majority of the cute pups.

Her daughter Abi has claimed one so that two-year-old Poppy can still have contact with one of her babies.

Lisa, from Galashiels, Scotish Borders, said: “The dogs are all brilliant and Poppy is doing brilliant considering it’s her first litter.

“The vet told us she would have between eight and 10, but the record for the most puppies for a Setter was 16.

“I couldn’t believe it when we counted them and realised she had 15.

“I’ve had a lot of interest in them – from people on Facebook to people just stopping me in the street.

“We have about six people who are interested in buying some of them. It’s really not about the money for me.”

Lisa’s family, which includes husband Peter, 50, and sons Ben, 15, and Jack, 7, as well as daughter Abi, say they were so lucky to have a dog as good as Poppy.

Lisa added: “I just love how good-natured Poppy is and I want other families to have dogs just like her, that’s why I wanted to do this. She’s beautiful.

“I took time off work to care for Poppy so she could be comforted when giving birth. Myself and Abi took turns to make sure she was ok during the birth.

“I’ll be heartbroken when they’re all gone. I thought about keeping them, but I think my husband would kill me.”