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.
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.
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.
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.