A Great Dane in Illinois is making headlines after delivering an incredible 19 puppies in what experts are calling a rare and emotional moment.
The massive litter was born on April 23 in Batavia, Illinois, with owner Becky Waltz sharing the news on Facebook. According to Waltz, the puppies were delivered via an emergency C-section — and against the odds, every single one survived.
“All born alive, all healthy, and already showing incredible strength,” she wrote.
The litter includes 10 females and 9 males, making it one of the largest known Great Dane litters in the area — especially with such strong birth weights across the board.
The proud parents are two Great Danes named Piper and Toby, with Toby also working as a trained service dog.
Caring for 19 newborn puppies is no small task. Waltz says the dogs are receiving constant attention, including round-the-clock feeding, rotating care schedules, and close monitoring to make sure each puppy continues to thrive.
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“It’s emotional — 19 lives to care for from their very first breath, and every single one matters,” she said.
The delivery took place at Paws and Claws Animal Hospital, where veterinarian Dr. Melanie Murphy helped bring the giant litter into the world.
Murphy said a typical Great Dane litter is usually around 10 to 12 puppies — making this case highly unusual.
“Every time I thought it was done, there was another,” she said.
Waltz added that the team didn’t even realize how big the litter was at first.
“None of us started counting until we needed a third basket,” she said. “None of us could count straight.”
While the birth is rare, it’s not a record-breaker. A Great Dane in Virginia reportedly had 21 puppies a few years ago, and a Neapolitan mastiff holds the world record with 24 puppies born in 2004.
Still, for this Illinois family and the veterinary team, the experience was unforgettable.
Murphy called it a “once-in-a-lifetime” delivery, praising both the staff and the dog’s owners for their quick action and care during the unexpected procedure.
Now, all 19 puppies are alive, healthy, and getting stronger by the day — turning what could have been a stressful situation into an incredible story of survival.