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Teaching an old dog new tricks: Orphaned kitten finds a new mum – Harley the bulldog
Metro [UK] ^ | 12 Jul 2013 | Kirstin Knight

Posted on 07/15/2013 12:26:57 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows

What do you get when you give an orphaned kitten a grumpy bulldog for company? A surrogate parent probably wouldn’t be your first answer.

But little Tigger the rescue cat has found an unlikely authority figure in two-year-old Harley.

And now the dog has even begun to produce milk for her new charge.

Owner Clare Evans said: ‘Harley can be quite a moody so-and-so and I never thought she would be this way with him.’

The unusual bond developed after two-week-old Tigger was found abandoned in a church and handed in to Arvonia Vets in Cheltenham where Ms Evans works as a trainee nurse.

The 37-year-old took Tigger home but couldn’t believe her eyes when Harley, who is unable to have puppies because of a tumour on her spine, adopted the tiny kitten.

The mother-of-three said: ‘From the moment I took Tigger back to mine, Harley completely tried to take over the care of him.

‘She washes him and lets him cuddle up, and now she’s producing milk and feeding him.’

The twosome are set to keep their bond for life as the kitten is due to join Ms Evans’ parents household – which is just next door.

Ms Evans said: ‘We thought it would be too distressing to separate them completely and my boys were quite taken and didn’t want to lose him either.

‘They are thrilled nan and granddad have decided to take him in.’


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: kittyping

1 posted on 07/15/2013 12:26:57 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows
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To: Slings and Arrows; Joe 6-pack; Glenn; republicangel; Beaker; BADROTOFINGER; etabeta; asgardshill; ..

2 posted on 07/15/2013 12:29:19 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have IngSoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
they are color coordinated! :)


3 posted on 07/15/2013 12:30:09 AM PDT by 1_Rain_Drop
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To: 1_Rain_Drop

4 posted on 07/15/2013 12:35:59 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have IngSoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Awwwwwww. What type of tumor does the dog have? Is it eventually fatal or something benign they’re just letting stay there? Sounds strange not to remove it or use radiation or something. Meanwhile, what cuties they both are!


5 posted on 07/15/2013 12:40:16 AM PDT by EinNYC
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To: EinNYC
Awwwwwww. What type of tumor does the dog have? Is it eventually fatal or something benign they’re just letting stay there? Sounds strange not to remove it or use radiation or something. Meanwhile, what cuties they both are!

I only know what's in the story - some of dog-expert freepers might be able to make educated guesses. And yes, they are cuties.

6 posted on 07/15/2013 12:46:48 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have IngSoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

I wuv critters, more than people sometimes.


7 posted on 07/15/2013 12:51:53 AM PDT by Catmom
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To: Catmom

Me too, and not just sometimes.


8 posted on 07/15/2013 12:55:41 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have IngSoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Catmom; Slings and Arrows

Me too. I like cats and dogs better than most people too


9 posted on 07/15/2013 1:41:19 AM PDT by Gefn (More Cowbell please)
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To: Slings and Arrows; EinNYC

Just a generic comment on bulldog physiology, not this situation specifically: The female reproductive tract on purebred English bulldogs quite often requires the pups to be delivered by way of Caesarian section. This is a result of historically faulty breeding and any other medical issue would possibly contraindicate pregnancy.


10 posted on 07/15/2013 1:41:48 AM PDT by T-Bird45 (It feels like the seventies, and it shouldn't.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Cute.


11 posted on 07/15/2013 2:28:10 AM PDT by Biggirl ("Jesus talked to us as individuals"-Jim Vicevich/Thanks JimV!)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Love it....


12 posted on 07/15/2013 6:21:00 AM PDT by Fawn (In a World of Information, Ignorance is a Choice.)
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To: Slings and Arrows; Catmom

Ditto!


13 posted on 07/15/2013 6:21:27 AM PDT by Fawn (In a World of Information, Ignorance is a Choice.)
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To: Monkey Face

Ping


14 posted on 07/15/2013 6:48:49 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: BenLurkin; Slings and Arrows

Awww....fangs for the ping!


15 posted on 07/15/2013 7:12:19 AM PDT by Monkey Face (Don't be afraid to disagree with a liberal. They may mock you but they are unarmed.)
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To: Monkey Face

Mew’re welcome.


16 posted on 07/15/2013 7:44:56 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have IngSoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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