Proving to the world that the impossible is nothing for a dog, this Australian Shepherd became a single father to five orphaned cheetah cubs.
The children’s mothers died shortly after birth and their chances of survival were extremely low. But they all get a second chance, thanks to Blakely – a very attentive and kind dog.
The five babies – 3 boys and 2 girls – were born at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s jaguar breeding facility in Ohio, where their mother, Willow, is a permanent resident. Unfortunately, the 5-year-old girl passed away a few weeks after giving birth due to some complications.
The staff tried their best to save the cubs, but everyone knew it was almost impossible. It is important for cubs to be with their mother during the first weeks of life.
Despite that, the tiny cubs were taken to a nursery, where they received the best medical care and were bottle-fed daily. However, the most important thing for employees is to maintain body temperature. All they need is the warm body of their mother. That’s when Blakely walks in!
Blakely, who became a resident of the facility more than five years ago after being rescued from a local shelter at the age of seven months, is more of a therapy dog.
This is not the first such experience for the Australian Shepherd. It was initially used as a support dog for another cheetah, after it lost its cubs, and later as a comforter for the cubs.
So he and the first cubs they met became close. Blakely gives them the comfort of a mother, and the little creatures seem happy to cuddle and climb on top of him. But although they get along well, Blakely only stays with them twice a day. The rest of the time, staff take care of them about proper nutrition and rest.
In any case, a care dog will be with them for a long time. “As the cubs grow, Blakely’s role in their development will shift from a companion for climbing and a body covered in warm fur to a teacher and a role model,” said Dawn Strasser , said the head of the nursery.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education