Senior dog Jack was distressed and scared when he arrived at the Gloucester-Matthews Humane Society in Virginia.
Due to her deteriorating health, Sandy had to be put to sleep. Tye, Sandy’s foal who was abandoned at just 9 days old, found the death to be exceptionally devastating. However, Karla’s dog Ziр immediately stepped in to comfort the distressed baby horse.
According to Karla, “Zip stayed with me in the barn alley all night; the foal was resting in the alley, and he just laid there by the foal.”
Karla said that the dog spent the entire night with the colt, consoling him with a sympathetic рaw after sensing Tye’s anguish. She told the Lewiston Tribune, through IHeartDogs, that “[Ziр] was resting there by his neck and the dog was whining, like sobbing.” It simply tore my heart apart.
Given their emotional intelligence, dogs are thought to be able to feel when a person has died away. It was clear that Ziр comprehended the circumstances and specifically sought out to this lost foal. Karla told The Dodo, “We raise foals every year, and he would kind of look through the entrance and just look at them.” “You could tell Ziр was aware of a problem that evening.”
She told the Tribune, “This is the first time he’s ever just licked on one, nudged one, lain on one. For several weeks, Zip continued to look for Tye every day and looked forward to seeing his companion each morning.
Ziр would run to the stall whenever I left for the barn, stand in front of the stall, and wait for me to arrive, Karla told The Dodo. He always arrived at the barn before me.
He would almost knock me down as soon as I opened the door before I could enter. He would approach the foal and place his head on him if he was lying down.
Tye has subsequently matured into a happy, healthy horse, no doubt as a result of Zip’s nurturing and friendship during his formative years. Tye now spends the most of his time with his other horses and has grown more independent of his dog father as a result of having to “leave the nest.”
Karla remarked, “You could tell that Zip was there for the foal when he needed him. Now that Ziр is aware that the foal is fine, they essentially parted ways.
Although they are no longer dependent on one another, we know that these two will always be friends and hold a special place in one another’s hearts.
What a lovely tale. We enjoy reading and seeing tales of unexpected animal relationships. It’s so endearing to witness dogs take grieving animals under their wing and provide them with the support and companionship they require.
