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 Golden
retriever nurses stray kitten
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[October 09, 2007]
STEPHENS CITY, Va. (AP) -- A stray kitten has found a new mother in a golden retriever, who began producing milk for the gray tabby after hearing its cries.
The hungry kitten, found in an old tire at a concrete plant, refused to drink from a bottle, and her rescuers feared she would die. That's when Honey, the family dog who hadn't given birth in 18 months, stepped in with her motherly instincts.
[Caption: Precious, right, a
6-week-old kitten, gets a meal from Honey, a 7-year-old dog, on Tuesday in Stephens City, Va. The golden retriever had not
given birth in 18 months, but after her owner, Jimmy Martin, brought
home the kitten, she suddenly found herself playing the role of
mother. Honey began producing milk for the little feline after
hearing its cries. (AP Photo/The Winchester Star, Scott Mason)]
click on picture for larger image
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"She started licking her and loving her. Within a couple of days, Honey started naturally lactating," said Kathy Martin, whose husband, Jimmy, brought the kitten home six weeks ago. "The kitten took right to her." Initially, the family worried such a big dog would be too rough for the tiny feline named Precious. But Honey showed her elation at Precious' presence, wagging her tail and prancing all over the house.
Precious now sometimes plays with dog bones, and Honey lets the kitten gnaw on her like a puppy.
"She thinks she's a dog," Kathy Martin said. "She's really fit right in."
[Associated Press]
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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