This Family Was at a Loss When Their Very Pregnant Dog Refused to Give Birth
Chris Hughes and Mariesa Caliguire live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. They have dedicated their lives to helping animals in need. They understand that animals need love, support, and a place to call home. They've been able to share their home with so many wonderful animals.
While this couple is normally able to adopt animals without a hitch, they ran into some trouble when they adopted a dog with a serious medical condition. Chris and Mariesa had to act fast to save this new member of their family.
Meet Chris and Mariesa
Chris Hughes and Meriesa Caliguire work together to save dogs who have been abandoned or abused. Their shared passion for helping animals has brought them closer together as a couple. They got their first dog Moses early in their relationship, and since then, almost every aspect of their lives has revolved around caring for canines.
These two people are entirely dedicated to the animals they take in to their home.
One Big Happy Family
It started with one dog, a furry friend named Moses. One dog turned into two, two dogs turned into three, and by 2013, they'd adopted eight dogs in total. These dogs were all different ages, breeds, colors, and sizes. They kept Chris and Mariesa's lives very interesting.
Chris and Mariesa started to think that they shouldn't be keeping all of that fun and excitement to themselves. That's when they got a brilliant idea.
Life In The Doghouse
Chris and Mariesa had so much fun watching their dogs learn, grow, and play that they thought other people should enjoy that too. They started their own online reality show called Life in the Doghouse.
It took a few years, but eventually, their YouTube channel gained a loyal following. People would subscribe to the channel to keep up with all of the chaos in this house full of dogs.
Another Addition To The Family
Mariesa and Chris definitely had their hands full with a whole household of dogs, but they weren't quite ready to say that their family was complete yet. They talked regualrly about bringing another dog into their home. They knew that there were so many dogs out there in the world who needed homes, and their home had turned into a dog's paradise.
They decided that they should expand their family.
So Many Dogs To Choose From
Chris and Mariesa got to work researching different kennels and looking into the dogs that were available for adoption. In the fall of 2013, the couple drove over the Cuyahoga County Kennel where they saw literally hundreds of sad puppy dog faces.
Mariesa wanted to take home each and every one of the dogs, but she knew that realistically, they only had room in their home for one more animal.
Meet Storie
There's something special that happens when you see "your dog" among all of the other dogs in an animal shelter. Of course you want to take all of them home, but when you see "your dog," the thought of leaving the shelter without them becomes unbareable.
As soon as Chris and Mariesa saw Storie, they knew she was theirs. The three of them shared an instant connection— but there was something different about Storie.
Seven Dogs In One
After taking one look at Storie's enormous, swollen belly, Chris and Mariesa knew that she was pregnant. The staff at the shelter told the couple that Storie was expecting six puppies any day now. The staff members said that she thought Storie was actually overdue.
The puppies should have arrived already, but for some reason, it was taking them a while to decide that they were ready to come out.
A Tough Decision
Mariesa and Chris didn't know what to do. They really wanted to help Storie, and it didn't feel right to leave her at the shelter, but they already had so many dogs back home. They wondered if they'd be up to the challenge of taking care of six puppies as well as their mother.
Could they really handle this adorable pit bull who so desperately needed their help? What about her litter?
The Only Good Choice
Even though they knew it would be difficult, Mariesa and Chris just couldn't leave the shelter without Storie. They decided to take a leap of faith and welcome Storie into their home.
Once they arrived home, they introduced Storie to her new brothers and sisters. All of the dogs were very excited and happy, but pretty soon Storie started showing signs that she wasn't feeling well. She wasn't as energetic as she should have been in that moment.
Could It Be The Puppies?
Chris and Mariesa thought that Storie might be feeling lethargic because of her pregnancy. Storie had been pregnant for a long time, and she was probably very uncomfortable. They remembered what the staff member at the shelter said about Storie possibly being overdue.
After doing some research, Chris and Mariesa learned that sometimes, in high-stress situations, dogs can refuse to give birth. They were worried that this was happening with Storie.
A Trip To The Vet
Mariesa and Chris treated Storie's declining health as an emergency. They got in the car and rushed to the vet. Storie clearly wasn't feeling well. She was whimpering in the back seat during the whole car ride. All of the other dogs watched Storie, Chris, and Mariesa drive away.
It looked like they were all worried about the fate of their new friend and her puppies. What was going to happen to them?
An Ultrasound For A Pregnant Pup
When the vet first saw Storie, he was seriously concerned. He thought that there might be something wrong with the puppies or with the pregnancy in general. The vet set up an ultrasound so he could take a look at what was going on inside Storie's belly.
Chris and Mariesa hoped that the ultrasound would give them some answers. They hoped that the vet could help Storie give birth safely.
How Many Puppies?
What they saw on the ultrasound completely surprised everybody in that room. The staff member at the shelter had said that Storie was most likely pregnant with six puppies. When the vet looked at the ultrasound, he couldn't believe what he said.
He could clearly make out not just six puppies — but 12 individual puppy bodies. Those puppies needed to come out soon or both Storie and the puppies could be at risk for some serious health complications.
What To Do Next
Mariesa and Chris thought that Storie might need a c-section, but the vet informed them that a surgery like that would be too dangerous. It was all up to Storie now. She had to deliver her puppies on her own.
Chris and Mariesa did everything they could to make Storie feel comfortable. They left her alone for the night and what they woke up to the next morning was unbelievable.
The Miracle Of Life
When Chris and Mariesa woke up in the morning, they saw that Storie had given birth to 12 beautiful puppies. It was almost as though Storie was holding on to her puppies until she knew that she was in a safe space.
Chris was so happy to see that Storie and her puppies were happy and healthy. Now Storie could get some well-deserved rest. Chris hugged Storie because she was so happy that she was okay.
Now What?
Now that they knew Storie and the puppies were healthy, Chris and Mariesa got to work figuring out how they were going to handle 12 puppies and nine dogs. Now they had 21 dogs in their house, which was way more than they bargained for.
Even the most experienced dog owners and dog trainers would have trouble taking care of that many dogs. Chris and Mariesa were working around the clock to keep their home in order.
A Big Life Change
Chris and Mariesa realized that they were in over their heads. They knew that they couldn't keep all 12 puppies. They worked hard to make sure that each of the 12 puppies could go to a loving home as soon as they were old enough to leave Storie.
Fortunately, the couple's YouTube audience was quick to scoop up each and every one of the little dogs. That wasn't the only change for Chris and Mariesa's household.
A Home For Everyone
Chris's best friend Ryan saw that Chris and Mariesa were overwhelmed with their nine dogs, plus he had developed a special bond with Storie. Ryan offered to adopt Storie so Chris and Mariesa could have a bit more space. The couple happily accepted and Storie made way to her new home.
They would still be able to see Storie any time the wanted, and they knew that she was in a good and loving home.
Finally Time To Relax
It had been a crazy few days. Chris and Mariesa were so busy dealing with Storie and her pups they barely had a minute to themselves. When things started to go back to normal— well, normal for Chris and Mariesa— the couple felt like they could finally sit down and relax.
But right when they were starting to relax, Chris asked Mariesa something that really threw her for a loop.
Wedding Bells And Wagging Tails
Chris asked Mariesa to marry him, and she very excitedly said yes. A few months later, they made their commitment official in front of all of their family and friends. Of course, they had their dogs at their wedding ceremony.
Their dogs are part of their family and they couldn't get married without them. Maybe they'll have a kid (or 12) of their own in the near future.
