Have you ever watched that show on the National Geographic Channel, called Unlikely Animal Friends? Well, if you haven’t, the episodes showcase amazing stories of strong friendship bonds between unlikely and uncommon species. One episode showed a bond between a kitten and a baby chick; another showed a bond between a toad and a mouse, you get the idea. This story is exactly like that, except the unlikely friends are a dog and a bird.
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Hummingbird & Once-Feral Dog: Unlikely Friends
It all started last year when, Rex, a German Shepherd mixed breed dog, was a stray out on the streets of California. When Rex was adopted by Ed Gernon, he was kind of dangerous. After all, the dog lived on the streets and used his hunting instincts to survive. After Gernon took Rex in, Rex would fight with other dogs and even kill other cats. However, after being with Gernon for only a month, Rex because a rescuer, not a fighter, not a killer.
Once-Feral Rescue #Dog Saves A Hummingbird, Now They’re The Best Of Friends https://t.co/rOGKbAQtxw pic.twitter.com/hPICcLBANL
— DogVills (@DogVills) May 1, 2016
The two were out for a walk when suddenly Rex stopped and would not move from that spot. Gernon saw a small, injured hummingbird on the ground that was dirty, had no feathers and was covered in ants. Rex kept insisting his owner take the hurt bird home. So, that is exactly what Gernon did.
Since the Hummingbird, named Hummer, was so badly hurt, it took months for Gernon to nurse her back to health, feeding her formula every 15 minutes and using a hair dryer to teach her to fly. Rex has taken such a liking to Hummer, which he shares his water bowl with her.
And it seems that Hummer is in no hurry to leave either. She refuses to leave Rex’s side. She loves playing with him and often bathes in his water bowl while he eats, and then they start playing again.
Gernon’s version of the circle of life has certainly made for a touching story. As Gernon said, “I rescue this dog. He rescues the bird. The bird rescues all of us in a weird sense, and it’s just a miracle.”
Has your dog ever made an unlikely friend? Tell us about it in the comments!