If you had been tending to 15 newborns day and night for the past two weeks, fatigue would undoubtedly be etched across your face. This holds true for Romy, a new mother and a three-year-old pedigree Irish Setter. Wrangling her unexpectedly large litter during feeding time can be a chaotic affair, especially considering the demands of almost twice the number of puppies she might have anticipated during her pregnancy.
Romy, despite the exhaustion evident in her demeanor, takes on the role of caretaker with determination. Her youthful appearance may not reflect the challenges she faces in managing her bustling brood. The task of catering to the needs of this unexpectedly abundant litter has transformed feeding times into lively and bustling affairs, each session bringing its own share of chaos.
In the midst of the pandemonium, Romy's maternal instincts shine through, showcasing her resilience and commitment to her unexpectedly large family. The challenges may be overwhelming, but Romy approaches her motherhood duties with admirable perseverance, navigating the feeding routine with a blend of fatigue and unwavering dedication.
Sympathy goes out to poor Romy. Even with human assistance, dedicating an hour and 20 minutes to feed her brood becomes an exhaustive task, only to find the puppies clamoring for more just two hours later.
After each feeding session concludes, Romy immediately sprawls out on the floor, resting her forlorn face on the ground, allowing her eyelids to droop like autumn oak leaves—undeniably dog-tired. It's no wonder she eagerly seizes any opportunity for a cat-nap, though no self-respecting Irish Setter would ever admit to such a thing.
With the breeder Natasha White and co-owner Alicia Copping's permission, I reach over after lunch to pick up one of the puppies. A little lad, no larger than a guinea pig, measures about 12 inches from nose to the base of his tail. Born on November 24, he was the last to emerge, weighing a hefty 11oz; now, he tips the scales at 2.2lb. His temporary name is 'Red Boy,' indicated by the color of his collar, as detailed in Natasha's chart, which outlines each puppy's sex, birth times, weights, and color-coded collars.
The unique assortment of temporary names includes Turquoise Boy, Turquoise Girl, Purple Boy, Purple Girl, Red Boy, Red Girl, White, Yellow, Green, Pink, Orange, Blue, and Gold. Natasha humorously notes they ran out of collars, accounting for the two additional puppies, Gold Neck, identified by a blob of nail varnish, and No Mark, who has neither collar nor varnish.
