Call it mother's intuition. Katjinga, an 8-year-old Rhodesian ridgeback, is tapping into her maternal instincts and serving as a surrogate mom to a 2-week-old piglet who was abandoned by its family.
Born on Aug. 21, the black, pot-bellied pig named Paulinchen, was found by Roland Adam, 54, on his land in Hoerstel, Germany, near death and abandoned by her family the night after she was born.
"I found Paulinchen all alone," Adam told the U.K.'s Daily Mail. "When I lifted her up, she was really cold."
Adam brought the tiny little piglet back to his home and introduced her to his canine, hoping that Katjinga, who had just finished with her own litter, would care for the newborn. To his relief, the two bonded right away.
"Katjinga is the best mother you can imagine," Adam said. "She immediately fell in love with the piggy. Straight away she started to clean it like it was one of her own puppies."
Mother and piglet are adjusting well to their new life together, with Katjinga even beginning to lactate again so she can feed her new baby.
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