Mom cat adopts puppy at Alabama shelter

[ElsewheresDaughter]

FLORENCE, Ala. — A mother cat at the Colbert County Animal Shelter has adopted an orphaned black puppy and has been nursing it with her kittens.

The tiny, black puppy fits in the palm of your hand.

Colbert County Animal Shelter workers immediately fell in love with it, like they do with so many of the animals that are dropped off at the shelter.

The problem is, the puppy hasn’t been weaned.

So, animal control workers came up with a surrogate mom. After all, there are plenty of adult dogs at the shelter, so maybe they could find one that recently had puppies so it could nurse the pup.

But one wasn’t found, so the staff turned to the next best thing: a cat.

“She just took to him right away,” Animal Control Director Tommy Morson said. “There was no hesitation, and that’s something that’s very rare.”

Morson recalls similar things happening throughout the years, including dogs that nursed kittens.

Senior officer Tammy Green said the puppy was left in the shelter’s drop pen Dec. 9. The mother cat has been at the shelter for two or three weeks, and had a litter of four kittens within days.

“Now the puppy thinks they’re his brothers and sisters,” said Amanda Helton, a secretary with the office. “He just nudges them and plays with them.”

Green said the puppy is starting to take on a particular cat-like trait.

“He’ll be littered trained, and whoever takes him, if they don’t treat him any differently, they’ll have to get him a litter box,” she said.

Morson said the department has formulas they feed puppies and kittens, but workers prefer that the animals nurse.

He is not surprised to hear that the employees are spending a great deal of time with the animals in this case.

“This is one of the most caring staffs I’ve ever had,” Morson said.

He likes the chances of the cat, puppy and kittens being adopted. About 1,200 animals are adopted from the Colbert shelter every year.

[Bucky]

1. Well, this story will get them adopted out pretty quick.

Still, George Carlin is on record saying that this is a sign of the end of the universe.

[redqueen]

2. I love stories like that.

[Roon]

3. awwwww!

She looks just like my Dolly did. :cry:

[ThomCat]

4. That is so very cute!

And the idea of a litter trained dog is very appealing to someone like me who couldn't physically walk a dog every day. If you could make sure he has some way of getting his play and excercise, then there'd be no downside. :)

[Wcross]

5. I'd take the whole crew if I could.

I have a full house now so I have to pass.

Thanks for the heartwarming story!

[flvegan]

6. This is a great story, but I have to say that animal shelter "drop boxes" are the epitome of evil.

I'll spare folks the details.

I'm glad that the pup has a good chance, as does mama kitty and her kittens.