My Dog Happily Cleaning a Kitten's Face

This video was featured in the PBS documentary series, "Nature", in the the "Why We Love Cats & Dogs" episode. I was asked if they might send a video crew out to get more footage but I had to decline as the cats you see here could not be videotaped due to their feral state. I would have really liked to have had the story of their arrival and their friendship with Annie, the breeder dog, shared with others... but ferals tend to hide themselves away when other other human beings, beyond their "caregivers" appear.

This is my dog. a dog who was found on a Texas highway, terribly filthy, infested with mites, and having a heart problems,, she is cleaning, a recently (semi) domesticated cat (Bounce), very enthusiastically. She loves them - even when they are mean to her. These were not pets, they were feral cats, and could be very cruel to her. Not a problem for Annie. She is quite the little mother!
One paw up, and they freeze into position, even though she is now much SMALLER than they.

With a lot of patience, they have really come along, I can pet all but two now. But Annie.. Annie was never afraid of them, she is absolutely FEARLESS!

Annie came to me as a stray, afraid and unsure of what was expected of her. The kittens are about her size now, too. But she just never gives up! I wish I had her enthusiasm!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• cats
• dogs
• feral
• wild
• domestic
• bobcat
• pomeranian
• breeder
• rescue
• TNR
• kitten
• love

[AspieCub]

Robbie,

I adopted a brand new set of 2 kittens that resemble Bounce. They are both Tabbies and I named them Agnetha (female) and Bjorn (male) and I got them from the local animal shelter. It feels good rescuing innocent animals from certain death. They were abandoned as well. I'm grateful to have them as my own now. Keep up the good work.

Troy in Downey, CA

[robbiethree]

Congratulations on your new additions! I am so glad you went to a shelter rather than buying them from a pet store. You are going to have SO much fun with the two of them! If you get them up on youtube, let me know so I can see them!

Thanks for writing!

Robbie

[hot88fudge]

That is great! A stray tabby gave birth in my house to the cutest 3. And even though they kept me real busy and sometimes a little deprived of sleep. Like you, they made me feel really good about myself. :)

[robbiethree]

I am so glad that you were there for the little mother and her babies. And you SHOULD feel good about yourself for it! It is not easy taking care of them when they aren't actually pets. I hope you had them spayed/neutered... Right now I am trying to find a source of help with a cat I just got caught, he has an eye out. I don't want him put down so I am hoping to have his eye sewn shut and I will keep him in a cage in the kitchen until he has recovered. And, neutered, of course. :-)

[robbiethree]

I am so glad that you adopted your new pets from a shelter. And you are right, you'd be surprised to learn that feral (living in the wild) cats are never given an option of life or death at most shelters, they are immediately put down upon arrival. I thank you for looking at shelter animals rather than elsewhere when you decided to adopt. You're the best!

[delightracardeanne]

Do you foster them? was Annie from a breeder or a rescue? Either way, she's one of the cutest and happiest little dogs I think I've EVER seen.

[robbiethree]

Annie was found wandering in and out of traffic on a highway, with a Chihuahua, the Chihuahua was not caught, she was... I wanted her before I ever saw her and I drove to pick her up that night, she was scared to death of me, the tiniest little bundle of hair... trying to make herself smaller beside me on the seat of the car, it took about two weeks for her to lose her fear of people, but now she is the boss of everybody: Cats, dogs AND people.

[PhlegmEcstasy]

"Stop tearing up the couch, boy!"

*rip* Haha.

Really cute video. :D

[EsotericDesi]

LOL!... Pomerarians are sort of hyper little hairballs... LOL!

[diybrun]

no, the dog is just a pomeranian

[wiibot15]

Is that dog on Speed or something?

[lylacacia]

that dog is so energetic its funny.

[hot88fudge]

yes i had "mommy" neutered. I am so glad she has a nice place to live in right now. it is a wonderful feeling. I hope you do take care of that cat. one of the student i tutor just told me she saw a dying kitten today. she kept mewing and no one helped her. i felt so bad. i didn't know, i would have done something if i knew :(

[eyepicyou]

Oh, they are so adorable.