A Labrador gave birth to 13 puppies despite vets estimating she would only have six.

The Barrett family, of Binney Road, Allhallows, near Rochester, were left shocked as the animals kept on arriving.

All have survived their first six weeks and are looking for new homes.

Leah, 32, delivered mum Beau’s brood with her sister Alice.

She said: “We took her to the vets at five weeks because we thought she was pregnant, even though she wasn’t showing at all.

“She had an ultra sound and the vet said five, six or possibly more.”

On September 7, the first-time mum burrowed into the sheets on Alice’s bed and went into early labour.

Leah added: “When 13 came out it was a bit of a surprise.

“Dad was on the phone to all his mates the whole time.

“The vet said each puppy would take an hour to be born, but we had seven in 40 minutes.

“Part of the placenta came loose when the triplets were born so one puppy got stuck.

“She was there for 40 minutes and we were all panicking, we thought we had lost her.

“It took about 10 to 15 minutes to get her breathing.

“It’s a good job I’d done my reading on the subject, or she wouldn’t be here now.

“I used suction equipment to suck all the fluid out of her lungs.”

The family named her Hope and she’s now one of the biggest puppies.

Beau is struggling to look after her litter, so Leah and her parents Esther and Nick have been up all night caring for them.

Leah said: “Beau only has 10 teats for 13 puppies and they are getting too big for her to manage.

“They’re a bit cheeky; I’ve already lost a pair of shoes.

“They have to be fed every two and a half hours and they go through about five tins.

“It’s so full on, plus milk and mum milk.

“But they are all so cute and absolutely gorgeous.”

The puppies should be weaned and toilet trained in the next few weeks.

They are descendant from Crufts champions and are Kennel Club registered pedigrees.

The Barretts want to keep one of the puppies but haven’t decided which one.

Anybody interested in buying one of the puppies should call 07961 530963.

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