Litter of 9 Puppies Get Cutest Bear-Themed Names After Mom Is Rescued From Kill Shelter
Animal advocate Joey Graceffa recently rescued a pregnant German Shepherd mix scheduled to be euthanized at a local shelter. Graceffa named the mama dog Jane and brought her home, where she delivered 9 healthy puppies.
The precious pups have developed a bit and are showing their individual personalities. Graceffa came up with names best suited for each little pooch, and they all have something in common.
@joeygraceffa How has it been 6 weeks since I saved these puppies from the shelter?!
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In the TikTok from @joeygraceffa, he reiterated the story of the German Shepherd family and wanted to share the puppies' new monikers.
"Six weeks ago, I rescued a German Shepherd from a kill shelter," Graceffa recounted as clips showed Jane in the shelter along with the puppies as newborns. "She was pregnant, and she gave birth to nine beautiful puppies."
Grafecca held up each puppy to show how they've grown and revealed their themed names.
First, he showcased the "biggest" black-and-tan pup named Care Bear. Next was the incredibly cute Big Bear, followed by - you guessed it - Little Bear.
Then Grafecca lifted a mostly tan puppy to the camera, whose name is Grizzly Bear. Winnie the Pooh Bear was next and also boasted a golden coat. Teddy Bear was in the little dog house taking a nap, so he was unavailable for comment.
Three Puppies Were 'Underdeveloped'
Grafecca explained that the remaining trio of puppies was kept in a different area inside his house. The three pooches - whom he calls "the littles" - were the smallest of the litter and a bit delayed in development, so Grafecca was working on their rehabilitation.
Their names are Black Bear, Paddington Bear, and Smokey the Bear - and all three are over-the-top adorable.
Related: Street Dog Truly 'Worked Miracles' to Keep Her 3 Puppies Alive and It's Awe-Inspiring
"Their day is a little bit of a struggle in the morning," Grafecca shared. "I usually start off by giving them a high-calorie gel that kind of raises their blood sugar and gets them to have an appetite. They're getting better each day - they are gaining weight, which is such a relief."
The pet parent also gave an update on Jane - aka Mama Bear - who is doing very well and seems to love her new home.
Grafecca is doing an amazing job tending to the entire Bear family and picked perfect names for the adorable litter. He promised to post more updates, so it'll be interesting to see how these pups grow.
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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 11:10 AM.