When one Boston terrier welcomed a litter of puppies, her owner couldn't resist keeping one of the pups—and now she has told Newsweek why it was the best thing she ever did.
In August 2024, Katie Stevenson, 36, watched on as her dog Lily welcomed a litter of six healthy puppies. She hadn't originally planned to keep any of them, because in 2023 the family said goodbye to their senior Chihuahua, and they didn't feel ready to welcome another canine into their lives.
But it is often said that when you know, you know, and that's exactly how the family felt when they met Lily's puppies. Stevenson, from South Carolina, told Newsweek that, once her children met the bundles of fluff, they "just couldn't wait" to get another dog.
The family decided to keep Stella, and not only has she made them incredibly happy, but 2-year-old Lily also loves having one of her babies around.
"Once we decided that we wanted to keep one, Stella was the only girl left," Stevenson said.
"Lily is a very reserved dog, and before Stella came into our home, she was just happy to lay on the couch or chew her toys quietly. But now she plays and wrestles with Stella all day long. Lily is also coming out of her shell more with strangers as she sees Stella happily greeting everyone," she continued.
On January 9, Stevenson shared an adorable video on Instagram (@thebravelittlemama) showing why keeping Stella was "one of the best decisions" she ever made. The clip has delighted social-media users, leading to more than 1.3 million views and over 33,900 likes on Instagram at the time of writing.
Needless to say, Stevenson and her family can't get enough of the mother-daughter duo and love observing their inseparable bond. She told Newsweek that they "want to be together at all times," and if one of them leaves the house, the other will certainly tag along.
Stevenson said: "They dote on each other and are always licking each other and snuggling, when they're not playing. On school days, they ride along with me to pick the kids up from preschool and elementary school. They always lay right on top of each other on the drive, and it's so sweet."
The online reaction to the Instagram clip was unlike anything Stevenson had expected. She was completely blown away by the love and support for her two pups. However, part of the video shows Stella nursing from Lily, which divided some opinion.
Stevenson said that they let Lily decide when she wanted to wean her pup, which was around 4 months.
"We love our dogs, and it is always fun to hear that others love them too," she added.
The viral post has amassed more than 180 comments at the time of writing, as many people praised Stevenson for keeping the duo together.
One comment read: "We did the same. It's the most beautiful bond. Mother and daughter growing old together."
Another person wrote: "Too cute! She loves being a mama. Great job."
"This is so sweet to see, I'm glad she was kept. It's good momma got to keep one, she seems very proud and happy," added another Instagram user.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
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