Guide dog celebrates after becoming great-grandmother

Guide dog Connie has an even bigger family now

Like many mums, Connie will be celebrating a very special day on Sunday...

...but Connie's no ordinary mum - she's a Labrador retriever, guide dog mum, and now a guide dog great-grandmother.

In February, her granddaughter Coco gave birth to eight guide dog puppies, adding to Connie's big family of 24 children and 17 grandchildren.

Linda Atkins, a Guide Dogs breeding volunteer who looks after Connie and some of her family, said: "With four generations under one roof, this Mother's Day is going to be a very special one indeed."

Connie, her daughter Sophie, and granddaughter Coco, with the newest pups in the family

Guide dogs help blind and partially sighted people in everyday life and can help them to feel more independent and confident.

Six of Connie's children are still working as guide dogs, either working to help a human out, training, or acting as a parent to other guide dogs.

The first eight weeks of Connie's grandkids' lives will be spent with their mum, Coco, before as many as possible head off for training.

Once a guide dog retires, they hang up their working lead and are able to be adopted by their volunteer.

It'll be a busy house for Connie this Mother's Day

Connie's owner Linda says: "Volunteering for Guide Dogs and looking after my lovely girls and all their pups is a fantastic experience.

"It's hard work at times but so rewarding, knowing each one has a great chance at becoming a guide dog one day."

Connie has become famous at Guide Dogs HQ too, with Janine Dixon, the organisation's breeding and welfare operations lead, saying how important Connie's legacy is.

"Every guide dog is given the best start in life when they have a mum - or indeed, great-grandmother - like Connie."