Every family needs a little four-legged friend but in this story, the new addition came with a surprise that even shocked the Vet! Before we get into this story, let us tell you a bit about the family who took in a local shelter dog.
Chris and Mariesa were looking to adopt a dog but rather than opting to buy a pedigree breed, they had their hearts set on one from the shelter. They knew that this route would come with its own challenges but they felt prepared. Of course, as life would have it their newest doggy friend challenged them in a way, never seen before.
Time To Choose One
The duo had visited several shelters, which each doggy stealing Mariesa’s heart but she promised she would only pick one, but it was proving hard to pick a single dog when there was an abundance of sweethearts wherever they went!
They all looked at this prospective mother with pleading eyes that told her how much they wanted to be adopted. Despite this, she was able to find the one as her eyes landed on this particular dog.
Belly Full Of Unborn Pups
The one that approached them and started to lick their hands was a heavily pregnant pooch. Her belly was swelling with unborn pups, and Mariesa could tell that this dog deserved to go to a proper home. The pit bull deserved to give birth to her babies in a loving place.
There was no doubt in her mind that this was the dog they were going to bring home with them. However, they soon learned a thing that made them reconsider whether they were making the right choice. What was it?
Bred And Then Surrendered At The Shelter
Who would have thought that this expecting pit bull had an even sadder story? Mariesa felt like crying for the poor dog, who she learned was called Storie. he pooch used to belong to a person who had a backyard breeding business.
Unfortunately but thankfully, when her owner realized how expensive and hard it was to take care of Storie and the puppies, they took her to the shelter instead. After hearing about Storie’s life, they knew they had found the one.
A Loving Home
Chris and Mariesa wanted to make things right for the dog. They wanted to shower Storie with love and affection as well as give her shelter. They weren’t even thinking about themselves and their resources, but only about Storie.
It was hard enough to carry pups and then deliver them and shelter was no place for a pregnant dog! We have to commend the couple for their selflessness and care for this shelter but things were about to get complicated, very soon.
Fans Of Pit Bulls
The lovebirds happen to be huge fans of pit bulls! In fact, Chris and Mariesa have already rescued a number of dogs that come from this breed. This meant that they were no newbies but expert caretakers.
The shelter knew that this was exactly the type of couple Stori needed. Apart from Stori, the couple had 10 fur babies, yes 10! Below, you can see eight of their cute dogs, each with a unique story.
“Megabed”
When you have dogs, you also need to ensure that you have enough beds for them to rest in. Here is their so-called “megabed”. Isn’t it incredible that it measures 7 feet wide and 14 feet long? This space is important for the rescue dogs they choose to adopt.
When Chris talked to TODAY, he said, “At nighttime, all of the dogs want to sleep on the bed and sometimes it becomes too cluttered, and we end up being pushed off of the bed or sleeping on the couch. So we built the megabed.”
Misunderstood
Chris and Mariesa later arrived at the conclusion that there was still more they could do for these dogs. As you can see, the two of them are truly smitten with pit bulls. And they were aware of the laws pertaining to these dogs in their city.
Although they had plenty of dog parent experience under their belts, this situation was something they had never encountered before. One which no one saw this coming but turned out to be a blessing.
Loving Parents To Many Dogs
The couple shared one passion, and it was none other than their love of animals! In one interview, Mariesa even went on to say that she broke up with her partners in the past because they did not understand her obsession with dogs.
Hey! At least she knows what she wants from her significant other and judging by her current situation, it most certainly means a house full of puppies, specifically Pitbulls and thankfully she found that with Chris.
Chris Was Different
It was a good thing that she met a fellow dog-lover in Chris. Apart from the fact that they loved each other, they also had a mutual love of dogs. While Chris wasn’t as canine crazy, it was hard to say no to Mariesa or the puppies!
Together, this passion only grew the more they spent time together and while they, personally didn’t have a breed preference, the couple soon found out that one breed needed the most help.
Friendly Faces In These Places
A lot of rescue centres and animal shelters deal with problems that go beyond their resources. This is the reason they cannot possibly care for all the animals they want to rescue no matter how much the staff might want to.
When Chris and Mariesa went to the Pibbles & More Animal Rescue, they noticed that there was one particular breed of dogs that were present in overwhelming numbers: pit bulls. They had a hard time believing that these friendly dogs did not have a loving home to call their own. The lovebirds did not know it then, but one of these creatures would change their lives.
A Reputation They Did Not Deserve
Pit bulls have received a terrible reputation, although this is nothing more than one big understanding. You see, the features of this dog breed would be a large head and a muscular physique, although this is not indicative of the risk they actually pose.
Hollywood movies have a lot to do with the perception of their gentle giants. On top that, a lot of states have deemed it illegal to have a pit bull as a pet. That is the reason animal shelters take care of so many pit bulls.
Trying To Change The Stigma
Chris and Mariesa were both aware that this is the case, which is why they took in as much pit bulls as their resources allowed. The best part, they never witnessed any violence from their pets whatsoever.
This only proved to them that, Pitbulls as a breed was being misjudged and underappreciated and pushed them to want to help the lovely dogs, although they did not have a clue what fate was planning for them.
Loving And Loyal Creatures
Even though pit bulls are thought to be the most dangerous breed of dog out there, no research has actually come up with findings to support this claim. The truth is that they can be loving and loyal like any other dog breed. Of course, they might behave badly when mistreated.
However, this does not mean they are predisposed to act like terrible creatures. These dogs are actually amazing creatures when you give them a chance. At the shelter, one special pit bull was going to prove everyone wrong.
The Pups Should Have Popped Out Already
Back to the story! Before they could bring Storie home with them, Chriss and Mariesa needed a heads-up on the dog’s condition. It was obvious from looking at her alone that it was high time for Storie to deliver the puppies.
In fact, she should have given birth by then. They did not know why it has not yet happened, especially since the pooch looked ready to pop. What a precarious situation! What could possibly be going on?
Life And Death
This animal-loving couple knew right away that this meant trouble for the poor pit bull. The centre explained that she needed help as soon as possible but Stori’s newest owner will need to make a quick and weighted decision.
The next steps could mean the difference between life and death for the dog and her unborn puppies. Time was of the essence in this case. Storie needed to be taken care of right that instant, but the couple had to think it over some more.
Big Dog Family
When they were talking to each other and discussing their options, Storie rested her beautiful face on her prospective human’s knee and pleaded with her eyes. Mariesa came to a decision then.
She knew she would be bringing Storie home, but was this actually the right choice? After all, this meant that the big family would get one more member – if not more! This was going to a big challenge, that much was for sure. However, they would soon learn that things were more complex than they seemed.
The Perfect Solution
Even though they were aware that keeping Storie would mean taking care of an additional 10 dogs, they did not want the pregnant dog momma to be at the shelter for longer than she needs to be. Mariesa wanted to help Storie and give her a safe space to deliver the pups.
The couple started to talk about it and weighed the pros and cons of bringing home Storie. Without a doubt, it was not a practical idea. However, Chris suggested something that made perfect sense for the situation at hand. It sure seemed like their best bet, both for their family and for Storie and the pups.
Foster Parents
He suggested that they would foster Storie and her puppies. However, this meant that their time with Stori was only going to be temporary as the animal rescue team would then look for their forever homes.
Not only was this a good on-the-spot idea but was also a practical one, since they could not afford to keep more pets with their other dogs needing full-time care as well. And of course, the couple also had jobs and responsibilities.
Another Problem
The suggestion was a brilliant one, but the problems did not end there. Before they could take Stori home, they still had to find out what was wrong with the pregnancy and why was it not progressing.
What was the reason Storie had not yet give birth even though she was close to bursting? This was the next thing they had to tackle. They needed to give the pregnancy the attention it deserved.
Looking For Answers Online
This was the first time they have ever encountered anything like this. There must be some reason Storie was unable or unwilling to give birth to the babies. Chris and Mariesa had been worrying about it, so they decided to go to the internet and look for a way to address the issue. Did they find anything of relevance over there?
Unfortunately, they did not find a lot of reassuring things online. In fact, they came out even more worried about the situation! Well, this is normally what happens when you look for answers online. Chris and Marie felt even more anxious about the whole thing.
Relationship Between Trauma And Birth
Humans have a tendency to underestimate just how intelligent most animals actually are. When Mariesa and Chris started to look for answers, they found out why a dog might resist the delivery of her puppies.
Humans have a tendency to underestimate just how intelligent most animals actually are. When Mariesa and Chris started to look for answers, they found out why a dog might resist the delivery of her puppies. They even found a source that seemed to perfectly describe what was happening.
Stressful Conditions
What did they learn? Research showed that animals often experience a lot of stress and even trauma when they live in rescue shelters. Of course, pregnant dogs are more vulnerable to this.
While shelters have the intention of helping animals in need, they get crowded quickly. A crowded place is not the best environment for a pregnant dog. A loving home such as Chris and Mariesa’s can make a big difference.
Realizing How Dangerous The Situation Is
Chris and Mariesa started to read up about the matter some more and realize things could escalate further. There was a possibility that Storie would lose her puppies. Not only that, but she might also lose her life!
Mariesa found out that pregnant dogs experiencing trauma get so worried about the pups that they could choose to refuse delivery completely. This situation happens since they are under the impression that the babies would be at risk…
Off To The Vet
Chris and Mariesa were able to tell that this was a precarious situation. They had to bring the pregnant pooch to the vet as soon as they could. This was important if they wanted to ensure the safety of the babies. They popped back in the car and drove to the nearest vet.
The vet conducted an ultrasound scan on the dog, but she saw unbelievable results. She shook her head. How could this even be possible? There must have been some kind of mistake, one way or another!
The Shock Of A Lifetime
Something was right and Mariesa picked up on the fact! She had hoped to hear the worst news possible and was bracing herself. The veterinarian took a deep breath before she delivered the news.
She went into an explanation of the abnormality she found in Storie’s womb. Initially, they had been expecting to see six healthy puppies, but this did not align with the ultrasound results.
Frozen In Shock
The vet pointed to the outlines and then counted them for the couple. Chris and Mariesa then figured out what was happening. They were now in shock as well. They were told that Storie would have six puppies, but the ultrasound revealed that this was not true. What exactly was going on?
The vet did not expect this either. She tried to count again. After this, she gave it another round. The results were always the same. At last, she figured out there was no choice but to tell them what it was…
Unexpected
Chris and Mariesa had been expecting six puppies, but the vet knew this was wrong. The pregnant dog was carrying not six puppies but twelve! Yes, that is twice the number of dogs they were expecting.
At any rate, Storie had TWELVE puppies in her womb. How were they going to solve this mess? The lovebirds could not believe what they just heard. How could this happen? Six dogs already sounded like too much but twelve?
Disbelief
The lovebirds could not believe what they just heard. How could this happen? Six dogs already sounded like too much but twelve? Clearly, the problem was even more serious than they originally thought.
Was Storie going to be okay? Was she going to deliver all twelve of her babies? Let us find out. Even the vet had no idea why Storie had yet to give birth to her large litter of puppies. At the very least, the ultrasounds showed her that the puppies were all fine. What a relief! What was next for them?
Preparation
The vet said that the best thing they could do was head home and get ready for birth. If Storie still had not given birth after 48 hours, they should return for yet another examination. Chris and Mariesa did not know it at the time, but Storie actually had a great reason to wait.
You can probably imagine how stressed Chris and Mariesa had been at that moment. Storie was not only in danger of losing six babies but a dozen of these babies. They could not help but feel anxious about the following 48 hours. Was Storie going to be all right if she failed to deliver the pups in that timeframe?
A Brilliant Idea
It is easy to see that this was a dangerous and terrible situation at the same time. However, there seemed to be nothing they could do for Storie. The only thing left to do was make her feel at home. When they went home, Mariesa came up with a clever plan.
By that point, Chris and Mariesa already went through a lot of articles about trauma and stress. They knew how hard things have been on Storie. They tried to help her by giving her a very inviting space. Mariesa chose a spot in a spare bedroom. She even placed pillows and blankets for the dog.
Sanctuary
After that, they showed Storie her new sanctuary and prayed for the best. Chris and Mariesa gave it their all because they wanted to make it just right for the pooch. They even kept track of the room temperature and noise level in there.
The couple did not know that something incredible was going to happen there. The two of them headed off to bed for the night and then went to see how Storie was doing upon waking up. They wanted to see if she was feeling better and more comfortable.
Extraordinary
As Mariesa and Chris headed to the room where they left the pit bull, they could hear some curious noises. They hurried and entered the bedroom. They did not expect to see what they laid their eyes on!
They entered the spare bedroom. Much to their delight, they found Storie in there with her 12 adorable puppies! She was able to deliver them all while the two of them slept. What an incredible sight it was.
Thrilled
Mariesa and Chris were reduced to tears by what they saw. Who would have thought Storie was finally going to deliver the pups? They were thrilled. Soon enough, they learned just why she waited so long.
When dogs give birth to puppies at the shelter, it often becomes stressful for both the mom and babies. Storie was somehow aware that the shelter was not a good place for anyone to give birth in an environment like that one. This is the reason she decided to wait for someone like Chris and Mariesa.
Less Than A Day
Isn’t it incredible that Storie only had to spend one whole day, even less, with Chris and Mariesa to feel comfortable around them? She was so at home she even delivered her litter of puppies! What made it even more special was the fact that no one understands what was going on. Good job, Storie!
Storie was great when it came to looking after the puppies. Well, what else did you expect from the best dog mother in the entire world? It did not take long before people started to file adoption cases for the dogs. The couple already knew that they would not get to keep the puppies for a long time. Was Storie going to be okay with letting the puppies go?
Waiting For A Little TLC
When Storie was taken to a good and secure environment, she was able to let her body do the work and deliver the puppies. This was how she got to welcome the puppies, all twelve of them.
It seems like Storie knew just what she needed to give birth to her babies. All she wanted was the feeling of protection and security! The foster couple managed to give her these things, which was how she birthed her twelve strong puppies. She sure is one smart dog.
Heading For Their New Homes
Chris and Mariesa might have adored the babies, but they simply did not have the means to keep them. They had to give them up for adoption, sadly. It was a heartbreaking moment, but it was the right thing to do. When they were 10 weeks old, the puppies were brought to their new homes.
It is impressive to hear that they managed to find foster parents willing to adopt the puppies when they were 10 weeks old. We’re glad to hear that, but what would become of Storie? The puppies were all in good hands now, but what about their mother? After risking her life for her children, this wonderful mother deserves only the best.
Her Forever Home
It is not all that surprising to hear that the story went viral when it was posted on Facebook. The inspiring story of Storie reached someone who fell in love with her right away. This man then contacted Chris and Mariesa to schedule an appointment. He wanted to meet this lovely dog and then see from there. What did he have to say?
He ended up loving Storie even more and decided to take her with him! Storie has, at long last, made her way to her forever home. She and the rest of the puppies were then taken to their amazing homes. Not only that, but she also got spayed to prevent any more massive pregnancies. Let us hope she never has to go through anything like that ever again!
The Best Dog Mom
Even though Storie gave birth to a large number of puppies, she still remembered to give them the attention and love they deserved. When she was still with them, she was the image of a perfect mom.
Even though Storie gave birth to a large number of puppies, she still remembered to give them the attention and love they deserved. When she was still with them, she was the image of a perfect mom. Aren’t you excited to hear such a lovely thing?
The End Was Nearing
Chris and Mariesa were both happy and proud to see Storie accomplish such a big feat. She even cleaned and nursed the puppies while she waited for them to reach a good health status. Sadly, the couple did not have much more time with them…
The twelve pups all went to loving houses they now get to call their forever homes. They are glad this is the case because they will never run out of love and affection now. Storie stayed with Chris and Mariesa until each of the puppies were taken. Her maternal instincts are still as bright as can be.
A Crucial Chance
If Mariesa and Chris failed to take a chance on her, some very terrible things would have happened to her and the babies. We are happy that they took a chance on the incredibly pregnant dog they found in the crowded animal shelter. Otherwise, things would have gotten a much sadder ending. Whew!
Even though the story of Storie had a happily ever after, there are so many dogs out there who will never get to find a forever home. Shelters typically need plenty of help to take good care of the animals. If you are unable to foster a dog for some reason, you can do more by checking out your other options.
The Mr Mo Project
Mariesa and Chris are the founders of a nonprofit organization that looks after elderly and sick dogs. It is called the Mr Mo Project. The dogs that fall under these categories have a high risk of euthanasia, so the couple wants to look for places they could call their forever homes.
The project also takes care of medical and living expenses. The “fospice” homes, meanwhile, provide care and love. Of course, it is always a good idea to take in a new dog if you can. However, you can opt to donate money or spread the word about the shelter or rescue home. These might sound like little things, but they will go a long way to help the people who work in the shelters.
Happy Holidays!
We are coming to an end to this heartfelt tale that probably left you feeling warm and fuzzy, with some insight into Mariesa and Chris love of dogs. You can even check out the Instagram account for ‘The Mr Mo Project’.
Their feed is full of cute doggy pictures, our favourite being this one, with a caption that read, “Happy Easter and Passover from our dog house to yours”. Is this not the most precious thing? We wish this family all the best wishes!