Nellie, the pregnant dog saved from the Lucas County Dog Warden on March 9 and featured in a Blade story March 13, gave birth to a litter of puppies March 17.

Blade animal welfare reporter Tanya Irwin is fostering the dog and her puppies for the Lucas County Pit Crew and has been blogging about the experience at http://www.toledoblade.typepad.com/pawspress/

Because they were born on St. Patrick's Day, all of the puppies were given Irish names. One of the males, a roly-poly white one with black and brown ears, remains nameless.

Readers are invited to submit one Irish male name per person in the comments section of the blog. The winner will receive a Lucas County Pit Crew T-shirt.

The winner, who does not have to be present to win, is to be announced Friday at the Spay-Ghetti (No Meatballs) Dinner and Silent Auction at Michael's Bar and Grill, 901 Monroe St., Toledo.

The dinner runs from 5 to 9 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the door.

Advance tickets can be purchased for $15 by going to http://www.trinoble.net/lcpc_fundraiser.php or by e-mailing karen@lucascountypitcrew.com.

First Published March 28, 2012, 4:35 a.m.