Published: November 03, 2009 11:36 pm      

Puppy Love

Litter of 22 puppies makes for full house; now 10 need homes

Marc and Amy Travis are surrounded by puppies.

Well, they were. Around two months ago, their two chocolate Labradors, Lady and Josie, had two large litters of puppies only around a week and a half apart — resulting in a whopping 22 pups for the couple to care for.

Now, only 10 remain, but those pups aren’t easily forgettable.

“It’s been a challenge keeping all of them fed,” said Marc about the huge task that comes with caring for so many young puppies.

Caring for just one litter of puppies the right way can take up a massive amount of time and money. Vet visits, food, cleaning supplies and more can add up when a normal Labrador litter — anywhere from 8 to 12 puppies — is born.

But 22? What an experience.

The adventure began for Marc and Amy when they decided they wanted to raise a litter of puppies after going around a year without the small masses of fur running around the couple’s property in Eubank.

“We were ready for another litter,” Marc said. “We were excited about another litter.”

Lady and Josie, both AKC registered chocolate Labradors, were healthy, but Marc and Amy knew it may be a bit difficult for Lady to take. The female has champion bloodlines, but having pups had been difficult in the past.

So Marc and Amy thought they’d see if Lady could have a litter first.

The couple’s third dog, a male named Harley, would be brought in.

“it didn’t seem to take,” Marc said simply, about why they decided to see whether Josie could have pups with Harley.

She could, and apparently, so could Lady.

“The second Labrador (Josie) got pregnant, we noticed she started growing, and then we noticed (Lady) started growing too,” Marc said.

What would result would be weeks and weeks of some of the hardest work Marc and Amy would have to endure. Lady gave birth to 10 puppies, and Josie had 14. Each dog lost one pup soon after birth, leaving 22 healthy newborn puppies.

“We struggled with one litter,” Amy said. “But with two ... ,”

The pups had inside and outside runs, but the sheer number of pups — separated into the two litters — made it necessary that the kennels be cleaned at least twice a day, every day.

“They’re like our kids,” Marc said about the puppies and their parents. “Breeding is a ball, but it’s a lot of work.”

But that work doesn’t come without fun. Marc said he spends lots of time with the puppies, allowing them to crowd him and climb on him nearly every night during cleaning and feeding.

And now, with Lady’s litter at seven weeks and Josie’s at nearly nine weeks, they’ve become louder, bigger and rowdier.

“Now they’re just fun,” Marc said. The pups have developed an ability to identify with a human’s voice, and they’ve learned to respond to calls. Those skills take some time to develop. The puppies have been transitioned to hard food and separated completely from their mothers, which means they’re definitely ready to find their forever homes.

“So far, so good,” Marc said about the first pups to find new homes.

And those that remain are in good hands, but Marc and Amy know they’ll have to part with the pups soon. The puppies several weeks ago developed their own unique personalities, but one has become a favorite for Amy — a male puppy from Josie’s litter named Mini-Me. The runt began vocalizing his feelings to his caretakers quickly — and you’ll know if he’s unhappy.

“They’ll all let you know what’s up,” Marc said about the puppies.

But soon, Mini-Me, his remaining siblings and Lady’s remaining pups will be placed in their homes, and the Travis homestead will become quiet once more.

“This has been a learning experience,” Marc said. “We’ve learned our lesson.”

At least, it will stay quiet until they’re ready to tackle more puppies. But that’ll be awhile, especially after Marc and Amy’s experience keeping up with 22 puppies.

“We’ll never do two litters again,” Marc said.