Dog News

Eight is enough for service dog who welcomed litter of pups at Tampa International Airport

by Amy Drew

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It was a boy — seven times — plus one girl for Eleanor Rigby (Ellie, for short), a service dog who went into labor unexpectedly as she and her owners were waiting to board a flight at Tampa International Airport.

Personnel with the Tampa Fire Rescue, which documented the birth on Twitter, helped Elle to deliver her puppies.

An airport spokesperson told Fox 35 that a woman and her daughter were flying from Tampa to Philadelphia. They were aware that Ellie was pregnant, but didn’t realize how far along she was.

The puppies’ father, also a service dog, was on-hand for the birth, as well.

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Although her humans missed their flight due to the birth, they were happy that Ellie and the pups were doing well and now plan to drive the 1,000-mile journey with the 10 dogs in tow, according to reports by the Miami Herald.