Family reunions can feel a little chaotic, especially when the family is extra large, yet nothing compares to being surrounded by those you love and who love you back.
After months apart, a reunion becomes even more meaningful.
Bess, a devoted mama who raised twelve puppies and watched each one head to a different home, finally saw all of them again to mark a very special milestone: the litter’s first birthday.
Do you think the siblings recognized one another and their mom?
From Tennessee Streets to Safe Hands
Bess was found wandering the streets of Tennessee, pregnant and in urgent need of help. To everyone’s amazement, she was carrying twelve puppies.
Dog lovers and advocates Tracey Stewart and her husband, Jon, immediately stepped in to help Bess and her soon-to-arrive babies, arranging for her transfer to New York.
When labor began, complications followed. One of the tiniest pups, Burrdie, was lodged in the birth canal for more than three hours with limited oxygen.
When she finally arrived, concern filled the room. The team kept a close watch on her and gave her a pink bow so everyone would remember she needed extra monitoring.
“We really thought we were just gonna get through the birth, and that was going to be the end of it. The doctors came out and told us that there was a chance that because there were so many puppies, they probably weren’t all going to make it. That just wasn’t an option!,” Tracey told The Dodo.
Tracey, Jon, and a circle of dedicated friends took shifts caring for Bess and the newborns. Half the house became a puppy zone to keep everyone safe and comfortable.
Bess could not have asked for a stronger support network. “Burrdie got to have extra feedings (…) Starting to see her thrive and become the same size as everybody, that was really profound to us,” Tracey added.
Finding Forever Families
Bess proved to be an exceptional mother. She was patient, gentle, attentive, and endlessly loving.
Before any of the puppies left, Bess herself found a permanent home. Susan Zaleski fell in love with her as soon as she learned her story.
“I knew immediately that this was our dog,” said Susan. She describes Bess as a natural nanny dog with strong motherly instincts.
The puppies stayed with the Stewarts for at least eight weeks before moving on, but placing a dozen little ones was no small task.
In the end, friends and family stepped up and adopted every single pup.
Ten Months Later, Time For A Party
Ten months after the adoptions, the pups were nearing their first birthday, and someone suggested a grand idea: bring them all together again.
Families gathered in Middletown, NY, and Bess reunited with all twelve of her babies at once.
The day felt like pure magic.
“She had a special pink bow that they put on her to make sure that she got extra milk. And so that’s why we got her extra pink little bow for today, to remember that,” said Burrdie’s mom.
Everyone reported that the dogs were thriving: Burrdie, Ginny, Gracie, Ruby, Osa, Louis, Drake, Rupert, Ranger, Seven, Ruby, and Sandy.
“You always wonder if the dogs recognize, and clearly they do. It’s really sweet,” said one of the puppy parents.
There were happy tears, endless smiles, plenty of “awws” and “yays,” and a whole lot of joy.
When Bess arrived, she could hardly contain herself and seemed unsure where to run first.
“The puppies couldn’t stop themselves, and Bess couldn’t stop herself. And she leaps up, almost leaping into the group of puppies, just to say hello to everybody. And you could just see joy,” Susan described.
Birthday hats came out, and every pup looked as adorable as ever.
“It touched my heart. It’s nice to feel like, that this birth is actually creating community around it. It was a very successful reunion. My hope is that we get to have this every year, and that this goes on for years and years and years to come,” Tracey said.
To keep up with Bess and her incredible dozen, check out her Instagram and follow along with their adventures.