Great Dane's 19 Puppies a Surprise to Pennsylvania Owners

A Great Dane in York County, Pennsylvania, recently gave birth to a litter of 19 puppies.

The mother, Snowy, belongs to Brandon and Aimie Terry, who said they knew their Great Dane was pregnant, but didn’t expect such a large litter, WHTM-TV reported.

A typical Great Dane litter includes between seven and 10 puppies, the station reported. An X-ray at the veterinarian’s office found 15 puppies.

The puppies were born about three weeks ago, a week earlier than expected.

“We were not prepared,” Aimie Terry told WHTM-TV.

Brandon Terry was doing yard work and heard a noise that he thought was a mewing kitten. When he went to investigate, he discovered a newborn puppy. Seven puppies were born at home, and the rest were born at an animal hospital.

A Neapolitan mastiff in Cambridgeshire, England, holds the record for largest litter of puppies, with 24 born in 2004.

The Great Dane pups are expected to reach about three feet in height and weight about 100 pounds.

Twitter users shared their reactions.

That must have been a "ruff" pregnancy. RT @WKRN: This Great Dane has her hands full after delivering 19 puppies: http://t.co/BJ4tI7hZLw

— Michael Coley (@mcoley) November 18, 2014

A Great Dane's Giant Litter of 19 Puppies: They ought to name each puppy after a corresponding Duggar kid. https://t.co/t8YWBs7pxG via @GMA

— Ian Punnett (@deaconpunnett) November 18, 2014

A Great Dane had 19 puppies and I want all of them.

— Trista Lund (@_tristalund) November 17, 2014

Related Stories:

• Gus Kenworthy Puppies: Cute Sochi Strays Going Home With US Freeskier
  
• 17 Puppies Dumped Along Road in Indiana Rescued by Motorists