- Mama Pickles – a 2-year-old pit bull– was abandoned by her previous owners while she was pregnant.
- The dog wound up at Pits & Giggles Rescue in Charlotte, North Carolina, where volunteers loved her sunny disposition and decided to give her a maternity photo shoot.
- Mama Pickles was a natural in front of the camera and, once her eight puppies arrived, they posed for some absolutely adorable group shots.
- The family won’t be ready for adoption for a few months, but you can read more about Pits & Giggles’ work or learn about volunteer and other adoption opportunities on the organization’s website.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Finding a home for a stray dog can be quite difficult. But finding a home for a stray pit bull – and a pregnant one, no less – is nearly impossible.
Mama Pickles – a 2-year-old pit bull with a caramel and white coat, golden-brown eyes, and a very full belly – was abandoned by her previous owners and wound up at Pits & Giggles Rescue in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Volunteers at the rescue – including photographer Lauren Casteen Sykes – loved Mama Pickles’ playful disposition and decided she had the perfect personality to participate in a doggy maternity photo shoot. Casteen Sykes managed to capture some stunning pictures of the pooch, including a few with her eight adorable puppies.
Check out the photos, which have unsurprisingly gone viral, below:
Mama Pickles — a 2-year-old pit bull with a caramel and white coat, golden-brown eyes, and a very full belly — was abandoned by her previous owners.
After a brief stint at a shelter that couldn't properly care for her, Mama Pickles wound up at a maternity rescue shelter based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Pits & Giggles Rescue specializes in assisting pregnant dogs without a home through their delivery and first few months as mothers. As its name suggests, the organization primarily works with pit bulls and pit bull mixes.
Volunteers at the rescue — including photographer Lauren Casteen Sykes — immediately recognized Mama Pickles' sunny disposition and playful air. They decided she had the perfect personality to participate in a doggy maternity photo shoot.
Mama Pickles struck the perfect balance between fierce and friendly, posing perfectly one moment and stumbling over her pregnant belly the next.
But Casteen Sykes managed to capture some stunning photos of the pooch, who she described to Insider as "the queen of the power pose" but also "the clumsiest, goofiest pit bull I've met in a long time."
"It took a lot of hands and tons of treats to help her focus on channeling that inner goddess!" Casteen Sykes told Insider.
"She was amazing and you could really see her soaking up and loving the attention. She's a typical pitty in the sense that she will do anything for pets and praise!"
Mama Pickles gave birth to eight puppies — all females. And once they arrived, the only logical next step was to bring the whole gang out for a group photo shoot.
"These dogs are just so incredibly special," Casteen Sykes said. "They've gone through such a difficult journey. Having an opportunity to share that with people and help them find their homes is the most amazing feeling."
Casteen Sykes said that beyond caring for pregnant dogs and newborn puppies, Pits & Giggles is also "constantly educating the community about responsible spay and neuter practices."
"This rescue pours so much in to each of these families," she added. "And makes absolutely certain everyone is spayed or neutered."
Unsurprisingly, Casteen Sykes' photos of Mama Pickles and her puppies have gone viral online. And even though it'll be a few months before any of them are ready to leave Pits & Giggles, their internet fame certainly doesn't hurt the cause.
"I can't say enough about this awesome organization," Casteen Sykes said. "I'm so excited to continue capturing these incredible mama dogs and sharing them so they find their way home!"
You can learn more about Pits & Giggles' work or find information about volunteering or adopting on the organization's website.
Read more:
- A man got a 'Can I pet your dog?' tattoo to help overcome his social anxiety
- The world's first Instagram 'sleep influencer' told us about his life of snoozing in luxury hotels and jet setting across the globe
- We tried Pumpkin Spice Lattes from 4 major chains, and 7-Eleven was the clear winner
- A 'MasterChef' winner called a vegan customer a d--- after they complained about his restaurant's lack of meatless options