A rescued Cane Corso mastiff named Kila has given birth to one of the largest litters recorded at an animal welfare center in Chesterfield, South Yorkshire. Kila, a five-year-old dog taken into the RSPCA’s Chesterfield branch from a property in Doncaster due to welfare concerns, surprised staff when it was discovered she was pregnant only days before a scheduled neutering procedure.

Six days following the discovery, Kila delivered 14 pups, although three did not survive. Adding to the center’s unexpected influx of puppies, another dog named Susie, who was already known to be expecting, gave birth to 10 more puppies shortly after Kila’s litter.

Chloe Gee, a staff member at the Chesterfield center, described the situation as an unusual but welcome challenge. “We’d already taken Susie in, knowing that she was expecting. When we discovered we would be having two litters we were rather surprised; especially as they were due just a few days apart,” Gee said.

Both Kila and Susie are currently under the care of the RSPCA, which is actively seeking new homes for the two mothers as well as their combined litter of 21 puppies. The center has named Kila’s surviving pups Cedric, Clark, Cornelius, Guinness, Jones, Lorenzo, Lucille, Marion, Roderick, Sarah, and Winnie.

Gee praised the temperament of the two dogs, describing them as “so sweet.” The Chesterfield branch is working to find suitable adopters to give the puppies and their mothers stable, caring environments following their early challenges.