A devoted Jack Russell Terrier has become an unlikely mom to six abandoned kittens – and is even producing milk for them.
Devoted Teasel, aged two, stepped up when owner Sue Stubley took in the kittens from a neighbor after they had been abandoned by their own mother.
She quickly embraced her newfound motherhood and for two and a half weeks Teasel has been cleaning, snuggling, and even feeding the kittens.
Sue, who runs Suffolk Hedgehog Hospital, said: “Initially Teasel was trying to get near to the kittens, and I was scared she was going to go for them.
“I was letting her sniff them and then she licked one of them, then I realized she actually just wanted to cuddle them rather than maim them.
“Now she’s looking after them completely, it’s amazing.”
The kittens were discovered outside in the rain abandoned by Sue’s neighbor, who lives just outside Newmarket, Suffolk.
After receiving a panicked call, Sue stepped in and agreed to home the kittens.
But little did she know that her pet dog Teasel would do most of the heavy lifting.
Amazingly, Teasel has even begun to lactate from the kittens suckling on her, despite her having never had puppies.
It has allowed Sue more time to look after 154 hedgehogs who have been taken in at the hedgehog hospital she runs in the past two weeks.
The kittens are now due to be neutered, de-wormed and micro-chipped before getting a new start in loving homes.
Sue said: “We are sending them to cat lovers, which is nice to know that they are going to good homes.
“I am hopeless at saying no to any animals that need a home.”
This summer Sue has looked after a whole menagerie of animals at her animal hospital, including fox cubs, badgers, owls and hares.
Sue said: “You name it we have had it this summer – but the hedgehogs are the cutest so far.”
Suffolk Hedgehog Hospital became a registered charity three years ago and is pleading for donations for the center Sue can continue her work saving animals.
She said: “If anyone would like to donate anything to them – cat food, milk or anything else, please text or WhatsApp me on 07702 211302.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
