Ruby’s own puppies hadn’t even opened their eyes yet when Ramblin’ Rose became part of their family.
A mother’s love knows no boundaries, and Ruby, a Doberman pinscher, proves that it extends beyond species. Just a week after giving birth to a litter of six puppies, Ruby welcomed and nursed an abandoned newborn kitten as if she were her own. It’s a truly heartwarming and adorable story.
Brittany Callan, Ruby’s owner, raises Dobermans with her family on their farm in rural Geneseo, N.Y. They currently have 14 Dobermans, including Ruby’s six puppies, who were born on August 18. But their little family was about to grow even bigger.
Late one August day, while Callan was helping her aunt clean out gutters, she heard a faint meowing sound coming from behind the garage. “Being an animal lover, I had to check it out,” Callan told Daily Paws. Sure enough, she found a tiny, helpless kitten.
Callan and her cousin, Nicole Gibbs, waited to see if the kitten’s mother would return, but as night fell and coyotes could be heard nearby, they decided to bring the kitten inside for safety. Gibbs named her Ramblin’ Rose in honor of her late father’s favorite song.
Ramblin’ Rose was incredibly small, with a dried umbilical cord still attached, suggesting she was just a few days old. Knowing that newborns need milk to survive, Callan turned to Ruby, who was nursing her own week-old puppies. She decided to introduce the two.
A Special Bond Forms
After a gentle introduction, Callan carefully placed the kitten’s tiny mouth on Ruby’s smallest nipple. “She took right to her and didn’t seem to mind at all,” Callan recalled. In fact, Ruby quickly grew attached to her new “adopted” baby.
Their bond has only deepened over time. Ruby lovingly carries Ramblin’ Rose around the house in her mouth. Since the puppies are bigger and more energetic than the shy kitten, Ruby often lifts her out of the pen and cuddles with her on the couch.
“[Ruby] grew up around small animals and learned to be gentle with them,” Callan said. “She’s just an incredibly sweet and nurturing dog.”
Since she was just a puppy, Ruby has been accustomed to different animals. She once shared a car’s front seat with a rabbit and cuddled with baby ducks in the yard.
A Growing Family
Despite their differences, Ramblin’ Rose and her puppy siblings have become close. At night, they snuggle up together, sleeping peacefully as a little family.
All of the puppies have already been reserved and will go to their new homes when they are 10 weeks old. Meanwhile, Gibbs, who helped rescue Ramblin’ Rose, will adopt the kitten once she’s weaned.
Luckily, Gibbs lives nearby, so Ramblin’ Rose will have plenty of opportunities to visit her loving dog mama.
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