Pup star Tilly's big surprise for dog-sitters

FAMILY was left gobsmacked when their dog-sitting duties took an unexpected turn - with the pet giving birth to 14 puppies.

- JORDAN COUSSINS SWNS reporter

Rhian Boxall, 47, revealed they'd been assured her brother's labrador, Tilly, was “unlikely” to deliver while he was on a fortnight’s holiday.

However, the three-year-old surprised everyone by producing 14 pups while Meirion Thomas was overseas with his family.

Rhian, from Llanharan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: “It’s been a crazy few days. Dog-sitting turned into a bit more than I expected - it was supposed to be for my brother's two dogs but we had quite a few special early deliveries!”

She explained: “We knew she was pregnant but told by the vet that she wouldn’t deliver before the third of September. They said it was really accurate and reliable for labradors and their puppies rarely came early. My brother was due home on August 31, so we thought it would be OK.

“They were told that they could see five puppies on the scan but a couple more might be hiding”

The marketing manager described the experience as a “rollercoaster of emotions” - with 14 puppies arriving in three batches across about 15 hours. Unfortunately, two were stillborn.