A while back this summer on one of my vacations, I came across this story that melted me like butter.
Bonedigger is a five-year-old, 500-pound male lion. Milo is a seven-year-old, 11-pound Dachshund.
After dinner, Milo licks the food from Bonedigger's teeth. His friends Bullet and Angel help, too. Bullet and Angel are also teeny-tiny Dachshunds. Bonedigger is still a 500-pound lion!!!!!
Some relationships between animals of different species are "unlikely" but happens. But a lion making lifelong friends with three wiggly Dachshunds? According to their care taker, Milo and Bonedigger have been "inseparable for the past five years at the the Garold Wayne Interactive Zoological Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. Joe Schreibvogel, an animal expert who regularly posts videos from the park at YouTube's JoeExoticTV, first introduced his four Dachshund puppies to Bonedigger when he was just a 4-week-old cub. Bonedigger is mildly disabled, thanks to a metabolic bone disease. Schreibvogel figures this explains the bond the group has developed. “The dogs thought it was just a big puppy and have loved each other since”.
The dogs and Bonedigger also share big, hearty meals of raw meat. They spend their days with Bonedigger in his yard, and because he's a 500-pound lion, what Bonedigger wants, Bonedigger gets.
“You do not ever try to take his dogs out of the yard,” Schreibvogel said. “It makes him very mad. They sleep on top of him.” Milo, for one, may think there's more to him than 11 pounds of wiener dog. The article goes on to say that Milo does his best to copy Bonedigger when the lion tries puffing to communicate with other lions in the park. What's puffing? That's the growl lions use to speak to other prides, which can be heard more than a mile away. This just blows my mind. Imagine: In Oklahoma, a Dachshund named Milo is talking to lions in a zoo in their own language. I have had two dachshunds, and my current pup Buster is half dachshund. They are the sweetest dogs, want to please, and they will also do things just to make you laugh. Course, I also think animals know the meaning of peace, harmony and getting along more than us humans.
I wouldn't be surprised if the lights are burning late at Disney after reading this.
Dachshunds are my favorite! I must visit this zoo.
ReplyDeleteI always love stories about different species getting along and being adorable with each other.
Truly amazing, considering the lion could swallow them in one full glup
ReplyDeleteLovely story of dachshunds and their friend, Bonedigger the lion. Dachshunds have form as fearless and fun little dogs
ReplyDeleteHow utterly sweet. It just goes to show everybody can get along when needed
ReplyDeleteawwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
ReplyDeleteIncreíble 😍
ReplyDeleteAmazing love between lion and little dogs. Very cute story.
ReplyDeleteLove it! I have a Doxie who thinks she could take on a lion. I have to keep on dragging her back to the real world. These dogs are sooo awesome
ReplyDeleteOMG - - - you have got to be kidding me! This is adorable, but come on - why aren't these dogs a lunchtime snack by now! so cute
ReplyDeleteI would have never expected a lion and dogs to be friends. That blows my mind.
ReplyDeleteCan you say cocktail weenies?
ReplyDeleteWe could humans and countries could learn alot from animals in general on how to live in harmony. I hadn't seen this story yet.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very cute story, but I'm worried.The wild streak is always there. Maybe quit while you're ahead. He's a dear little dachshund. Im afraid one day he may become a lunch time snack.
ReplyDeleteWe had a dachshund when we were kids. She was such a personality and we still talk about her adventures.
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