Dalmatian births litter of 18

MELTON MOWBRAY, England, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Experts said an 18-puppy litter born to a 3-year-old Dalmatian in Britain may be the largest on record in the country.

Adam and Nicola Morley of Melton Mowbray, England, said their dog, Button, gave birth recently to a litter of 18 puppies, one year after birthing a litter of 16, The Daily Mail reported Thursday.

"We were shocked when 18 were born and they were all alive and healthy," said Adam Morley, 40. "We feed all the pups several times a day because Button can't feed them all constantly. We all take it in turns -- mine's at 3 o'clock in the morning."

Veterinarian Con Hassett, who performed the Caesarean section on Buttons at Chine House Veterinary Hospital, said the litter may be the largest ever in Britain.

"I never heard of any breed of dog giving birth to 18. The real miracle is that they've survived this long because it's so hard to rear that many pups," Hassett said.