Dogs are continuously surprising us with the unlikely friendships they are capable of forming. They constantly show us that forming a close bond doesn’t require any prerequisites or have any boundaries.
Enter: Herman and Lundy. In what would typically be an unlikely friendship outside of the cartoon world — Lundy, a Chihuahua puppy that cant walk has become best friends with Herman, the pigeon that cant fly.
Image Credits: The Mia Foundation
It all started when the adorable duo met through the Mia Foundation, a rescue organization in, New York, that rehabilitates animals with birth defects and physical deformities. They’re a non-profit and rely on donations to continue their lifesaving work.
Image Credits: The Mia Foundation
Herman was rescued a little over a year ago in the car park of a car dealership, where he had been sitting, not moving, for three days. He was on “on death’s door” before they realized he was suffering neurological damage and couldn’t fly.
Local wildlife rescuers said, rehabilitation for Herman would be impossible and he would need to be euthanized, but Sue Rogers, the founder of The Mia Foundation, wasn’t about to let that happen — so she took matters into her own hands and decided to take care of him herself.
Image Credits: The Mia Foundation
Lundy, a chihuahua puppy, is a new arrival to the centre, after being sent there by his breeders because he was unable to use his hind legs – a condition known as swimmers syndrome. Rogers suspected the pup’s difficulty walking is due to damage to his spinal cord.
Image Credits: The Mia Foundation
Herman typically rests in his baby crib for most of the day but has regular breaks outside to keep him stimulated. It was during this time Sue decided to put the two together, and saw the pair cuddle up almost immediately.
Image Credits: The Mia Foundation
In an interview with WHEC TV, she said;
Thursday night I took Herman out of his playpen to give him some time out and I put him in a dog bed. Then I had to tend to Lundy so I put Lundy in with him. They just looked really cute together so I took some pictures and posted them to Facebook and the next morning it was crazy.
Image Credits: The Mia Foundation
Users online from across the globe loved their new-found friendship, with the post going viral instantly, gathering tens and thousands of likes and comments. ‘Just from a simple picture of a pigeon and a puppy being shared, we’ve already brought in over $6,000 in donations,’ Sue explained.
Image Credits: The Mia Foundation
Herman is living his life to the fullest despite being unable to fly, so there’s no doubt he will be the perfect role model for Lundy. He is able to provide Lundy with a sense of comfort and hope while the little pooch deals with being paralyzed, showing him that anything is possible when you have people who care about you.