“She came alive: loving, playful and clearly wanting to be part of a family” ❤️
Meet Koko — a sweet rescue beagle whose personality is as big as her pregnant belly.
![Pregnant beagle stands against a cupboard.](https://assets3.thrillist.com/v1/image/3096005/0x0/scale;webp=auto;jpeg_quality=60.jpg)
![Beagle shows off her litter of pups.](https://assets3.thrillist.com/v1/image/3096011/0x0/scale;webp=auto;jpeg_quality=60.jpg)
Once used for breeding, Koko unexpectedly found herself in need of a home at the height of her pregnancy. That’s when Homeward Trails Animal Rescue stepped in to help.
“While a bit shy at first, once she arrived in her foster home, she came alive: loving, playful and clearly wanting to be part of a family,” Sue Bell, executive director of the rescue, told The Dodo.
![Pregnant beagle stands against a cupboard.](https://assets3.thrillist.com/v1/image/3096005/0x0/scale;webp=auto;jpeg_quality=60.jpg)
![Pregnant beagle sits on the couch with a red ribbon on her belly.](https://assets3.thrillist.com/v1/image/3096006/0x0/scale;webp=auto;jpeg_quality=60.jpg)
Koko was placed with foster mom Cary Smith to help her through the rest of her pregnancy. Smith immediately noticed that the pregnant pup was hilariously expressive and photogenic.
Naturally, this called for pregnancy photos. And Koko’s foster mom was more than happy to oblige.
“Koko requested maternity glamor shots,” Smith wrote in a Facebook post. “I promised her, this is her last litter and she’ll never have to go through this again. She’s such a trooper.”
![Pregnant beagle sits on the couch with a red ribbon on her belly.](https://assets3.thrillist.com/v1/image/3096006/0x0/scale;webp=auto;jpeg_quality=60.jpg)
![Pregnant beagle stands against a couch to show off her belly.](https://assets3.thrillist.com/v1/image/3096007/0x0/scale;webp=auto;jpeg_quality=60.jpg)
The results were perfect.
“Her awesome foster mom decided to capture her gigantic hippo-like belly with some photos,” Bell said. “It morphed into an actual photo shoot to emulate what human moms do.”
![Beagle looks at camera while her puppies lay near.](https://assets3.thrillist.com/v1/image/3096010/0x0/scale;webp=auto;jpeg_quality=60.jpg)
![Pregnant beagle stands against a couch to show off her belly.](https://assets3.thrillist.com/v1/image/3096007/0x0/scale;webp=auto;jpeg_quality=60.jpg)
After giving birth to nine healthy puppies, Koko moved to a new foster home while she recovers.
“She’s been such an easy girl and the sweetest lady who lets me hold her like a baby,” Smith wrote on Facebook.
![Beagle looks at camera while her puppies lay near.](https://assets3.thrillist.com/v1/image/3096010/0x0/scale;webp=auto;jpeg_quality=60.jpg)
![Beagle shows off her litter of pups.](https://assets3.thrillist.com/v1/image/3096011/0x0/scale;webp=auto;jpeg_quality=60.jpg)
Thankfully, this is the last time Koko will go through this, making the pregnancy photos all the more special.
“She is such an attentive mom and has such a sweet demeanor,” Smith wrote. “Plus, she loves bouncing around the yard for the few minutes she’s away from her pups each day.”
Soon, Koko and her pups will be looking for their forever homes where they’ll receive the love they deserve.
While Koko won’t be doing any more maternity shoots, she’ll s