A Great Dane's Giant Litter: 19 Puppies

— -- A great Dane in Pennsylvania has been busy lately, after giving birth to 19 puppies.

York County residents Brandon and Aimie Terry knew their dog – named Snowy – was pregnant, but they never expected this many puppies.

“We had made an appointment to take her into the vet, and they did an X-ray, and found out there were 15 spines in the X-ray,” Brandon Terry told ABC affiliate WHTM.

Great Dane litters usually contain about eight puppies.

The puppies were born three weeks ago – earlier than the family expected. Brandon Terry was doing yard work when he kept hearing a noise, similar to a kitten’s mewing. When he looked, he saw the first puppy. Six more of the puppies were born at the house, with the rest born at an animal hospital.

“It’s a shocker, but I’m glad that they’re all here,” Brandon Terry told WHTM.

The puppies recently opened their eyes.

“Right now they’re into exploring and playing, fighting with each other,” Aimie Terry said.

The puppies are small and cuddly now, but they’ll eventually grow to nearly three feet in height. The family is hoping to find new homes for the dogs.

The largest known litter of puppies is 24, born in 2004 to a Neapolitan mastiff in Cambridgeshire, England, according to Guinness World Records.