This super cute puppy is proof love really is in the air in the run up to Valentine’s Day – after he was born with a patch of fur shaped like a HEART.
Saniya Shah, 17, saw her smitten Staffordshire Bull Terriers Kyra, seven, and Kylo, nine, give birth to a litter of six puppies three weeks ago – after the pooches had been ‘dating’ for six years.
The schoolgirl was stunned to discover one of the pair’s pups has a brown patch of fur on his side in the same shape as a love heart.
Saniya, from Leeds, W. Yorks., named the little pup ‘Buddy Love’ in honour of his distinctive patch.
The brown heart shape is on the right-side of Buddy-Love’s little tummy – and doting Saniya, who lives with her family, has released beautiful pictures of the pooch just in time for February 14.
The student, from Leeds, hopes the cute puppy pics will help destroy some of the stigma surrounding the breed’s reputation for being vicious – and said Staffies are friendly and loving.
She said: “Everyone who walks past Kylo and Kyra can’t help but smile.
“They are constantly together and the love they have for one another is plain for anyone to see.
“We weren’t surprised when we noticed the hearts on Buddy Love’s fur – it’s a stamp of how close his parents are.”
Saniya and her family are now looking for new homes for the litter – and are adamant that in the right home with caring owners.
Kylo was the first rescue dog to move in with the Shah family in 2008 – and Kyra joined six months later.
The doggy duo clicked instantly – and enjoyed sharing Greek yoghurt for dinner before sleeping together in a basket under the stairs from day one.
Saniya said: “On a standard day, I would take Kylo and Kyra for a walk together, leave them to play in the garden in the afternoon, and watch as they cuddled up on the sofa in the evening.
“They were gentle with each other and became distressed if they were not together.
“They’re like old-romantics.”
New mum Kyra first fell pregnant with six puppies three years ago – and all were successfully homed.
The family hadn’t planned to breed any more Staffies – and were careful to keep the loved-up couple in separate rooms when Kyra was in heat.
Saniya said: “We were due to give Kyra the snip last year but had to delay it as she needed another minor operation.
“We kept them in separate rooms when Kyra was in heat, but one day we nipped out to the shop for five minutes.
“When we came back we found them together – they must have escaped.”
Kyra gave birth to Buddy-Love and siblings Bindi, Jerry, Naomi, Zig and Zag last month – and Saniya said watching the parents dote on their babies brought a tear to her eye.
She said: “They looked like such proud parents – and more loved-up than ever.
“The heart in his fur was a stamp of love from his parents and made him cuter than ever.
“We joked that Buddy had arrived just in time for Valentine’s Day.”
The animal-loving teen is now interviewing families to re-home the puppies.
She said: “It’s a thorough process as Staffies need time, attention and a lot of love.
“The owner has to make time for their pet and must have a lot of space to let the dogs run about.”
Saniya hopes that the touching images of the tiny puppies will prove to the public that Staffordshire bull terriers can be a gentle, loving breed.
She said: “The breed often gets attention for being violent and destructive – but they are not all violent.
“They are so affectionate and caring.
“Human couples could learn a lot from Kylo and Kyra.”
