The Poodle and The Squirrels

[Echoes]

US dog that nursed squirrels is OK with empty nest after her foster litter left
Mar 29 07:40 PM US/Eastern

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS OXFORD, N.C. - After three baby squirrels lost their tree-home to a chain saw, they found a foster mom in a 4-year-old toy poodle named Pixie.

Dog owner Gail Latta said she tried unsuccessfully to feed the squirrels canned milk. Then the North Carolina woman turned to Pixie, who had recently had her own pups. They had been sold, but Pixie could still nurse. Pixie treated the foster squirrels like her own babies.

After two weeks, the squirrels were old enough to be weaned, and they had to go. Latta said she learned she might be violating state regulations by keeping wildlife in her home.

Latta said Pixie seemed a little upset when the squirrels were sent Saturday to an animal rehabilitation specialist, but she's OK. Dog biscuits seemed to help Pixie's recovery.


The Canadian Press, 2010

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=cp_hordq5c9q33&show_article=1

 

[Mrs. SR]

Aww. I love that all it took were dog biscuits to cheer Pixie up.

 

[serene]

hmmph.. no pictures of this strange family I would have liked to see some

 

[creditcardfire]

Wow, squirrels? That dog must have some crazy maternal instincts! My doxie would not hesitate to brutally murder any squirrel within a 20 foot radius.

 

[Longchamp]

^^ mine too, it's kind of strange that this dog nursed them.

 

[Classic Chic]

perhaps the dog can sense the difference between an adult and an infant squirrels?

 

[gypsybiker59]

yet more proof that animals rock! what a great story

 

[Brooke11]

What a cute story!! I wish there were some pictures. My mom's Chihuahua raised two orphaned kittens. I love that animals are so accepting of others

 

[Brooke11]

found a picture!!
It's at: (it won't copy as an image address)

http://www.peoplepets.com/news/dogs/pixie-the-poodle-takes-in-homeless-baby-squirrels/1

 

[Mia Bella]

I love these stories! It's great to see animals being so accepting and loving.

Wow, squirrels? That dog must have some crazy maternal instincts! My doxie would not hesitate to brutally murder any squirrel within a 20 foot radius.

^^ mine too, it's kind of strange that this dog nursed them.

My childhood doxie once had a litter pups and at the same time nursed a kitten we found in our backyard. She had absolutely no problems with this and treated the kitten as if it were one of her own. She would even lick its face clean and everything! Not long after the kitty was weaned it hit the road and we never saw it again!

Now our current doxies? We have one that would murder any kind of small animal in half a heartbeat and the other would find a way to annoy it to death. Crazy dogs.