LOTTO LITTER

I won a $2million lottery jackpot thanks to my pregnant dog – now I’m buying her a special gift after my huge win

A FLORIDA man has won big after buying a scratch-off ticket while taking an uncommon route home last year all thanks to his dog.

Leonard Linton, who was 42 at the time, was in a rush to get to his home in Pinetta, Florida after he had gotten a call that his pregnant dachshund was unwell.

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Florida man Leonard Linton, 42, won the $2 million top prize from a Florida Lottery scratch-off and credited his pregnant dog, Ivy, for the prizeCredit: Florida Lottery
Ivy, the pregnant dog that helped lottery winner Leonard Linton take home the top prize of $2 million, gave birth to six pups a week after Linton received his payout and promised to buy his pet a new kennelCredit: Florida Lottery

So to speed things up, he took an odd route home through Live Oak, in northern Florida.

On the way, he made a pitstop at a Stop N Shop that he had rarely visited and bought a 100X THE CASH scratch-off card for $10.

He soon found out that his dog, Ivy, was just fine, but that the quick trip had been a good idea for another reason.

He had bought a winner the lotto card was worth a $2million prize.

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"I still can't believe it. This is life-changing," Linton said when asked whether he had any big plans for the money according to a Florida Lottery press release.

He was sure of one thing, however.

"I'm definitely getting Ivy a new kennel!" he said.

Ivy gave birth to six healthy pups in the weeks following the big win, according to a tweet by the Florida Lottery.

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Linton snapped a joyful photo with his lucky pup holding his big check with "$2million" scrawled across it shortly after picking up his winnings.

He opted for a one-time payment of $1.6million, according to the press release.

Linton and Ivy's big win will even help the retailer that gave them the ticket.

The Stop N Shop that sold the winner will receive a $4,000 bonus commission for its part in the process.

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Scratch-off games in Florida contribute over a billion dollars a year to public education and merit-based scholarships.

The Florida Lottery has paid out over $80billion in prizes since its founding in 1988.

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