Foster mutt: Rottweiler plays mother to orphaned bunnies, birds..and even kittens

Mail Online [UK] ^ | 28th February 2011 | James Tozer

[Slings and Arrows]

You probably wouldn’t pick a ten-stone rottweiler to nursemaid orphaned bunnies and birds. But even kittens are in no danger from Dave the Dog. All he wants to do is look after them.

Owner Amanda Collins discovered her six-year-old pet’s maternal nature when she brought home an unwanted French giant rabbit.

‘Dave just walked over to him and started licking him to clean him,’ said the 25-year-old, who runs a pet shop in Blackpool.

‘They bonded straight away. Now they sleep together, and I’ve even seen them sharing each other’s food.’

-snip-

So far, Dave has helped bring up four ducks, three geese, five rabbits, 13 kittens and five puppies - not to mention countless new-born chicks.

[TheOldLady]

He’s just a big old caring daddy. It’s probably weird that all the animals he raises think that they’re dogs. They probably make good watch-dogs, -cats, -bunnies, and -birds, too!

[Ditter]

My JRT’s all 3, look on cats as varmints, I am afraid.

[rottndog]

Rotties are kind and wonderful dogs when not raised by a**holes.

Yep....haven't had a bad one yet. It's all about how they're raised. INCREDIBLE dogs!

[windcliff]

Cute ping

[trisham]

What a wonderful dog!

[Slings and Arrows]

Here’s one of his proteges in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ez5QPW-ku4

[TheOldLady]

Somebody let his pet snake get harassed by a rabbit? The first thing I wouldn’t do if my pet were being bitten like that would NOT be to film the carnage.

But the bunny did learn well how to act like a Rottie defending his territory.

[TheOldLady]

“would do”

I have to do one thing at a time around here, and not try to multitask.

[Slings and Arrows]

I don’t think that snake was a pet.

[TheOldLady]

It said its name was “Max.” Oh, was that the rabbit? Okay then.

[Cuttnhorse]

Me too...we’ve had Rotties for 37-years...have two pups now and can’t imagine a day without our kids.

[Cuttnhorse]

We’ve had Rotties for 37-years and never had a mean one. People don’t realize how much affection all dogs require, especially Rotties.

We loaded two on a plane and took them to South America with us where we lived for over 5-years. They are fantastic dogs and I’m happy to say we have two pups at 6 mos right now and they are a ball.

[4yearlurker]

Growing up in the country we had lots of outside cats. One mother cat we had was nursing kittens when we introduced a baby cottontail rabbit (caught by another cat and brought home alive) to her litter. She sniffed it for a while then accepted the bunny. *sigh*

[MissMagnolia]

Must be the same killer rabbit (or relative thereof) that went after Jimmy Carter.

[TheOldLady]

LOL! Right, it’s the multi-great grandchild of the rabbit who humiliated the coward, Carter.

[dervish]

aww!

[Slings and Arrows]

Whoops! This clip has been changed from rhe version I saw - same video, but soundtrack removed. I’ll see if I can find the original.

[Slings and Arrows]

Awww!

[Immerito]

You never hear about cats fostering dogs.

Clearly, dogs are better than cats. ;-)

Seriously, great article, thanks for the ping.

[austingirl]

Good doggie ping.