It’s always adorable to see animals of different species getting along and becoming best friends.
But this friendship between a dog and her unlikely “sister” is especially inspiring considering where she first came from.
Mindy Hayes, from Erie, Pennsylvania, adopted a pit bull named Grace from a shelter. She had been forced to fight in a dog fighting operation before being heartlessly abandoned.
“She was only 10 months old when we got her. She was found tied up to a tree with no food or water,” Mindy told GoErie. “She was 38 pounds when we got her.”
Grace settled in and proved to be a loving pet. Months later, Mindy an her husband wanted to bring in another animal to their home: a Flemish Giant rabbit. “I’ve had rabbits my whole life and I just wanted a huge rabbit,” Mindy said.
But naturally, she wasn’t sure how Grace would handle the new arrival—dogs and rabbits don’t always get along well.
So imagine their surprise when they brought their bunny home, and the two instantly became pals!
They named the giant rabbit Sophie, and the two pets quickly became “sisters.”
“She went right up to Grace and Grace sniffed her. It was an instant connection,” Mindy said.
Their friendship only grew from there: “They’re always snuggling and cuddling now. It’s adorable.”
Grace took the rabbit under her wing and made her feel at home:
“Wherever Sophie goes, Grace follows,” she said. “She grooms her and licks her constantly, which I’m told is a sign of affection and loyalty. They just share this special bond that I can’t explain.”
It’s a truly amazing friendship—one that defies all the stereotypes about pit bulls, and shows the capacity for dog fighting rescues to be rehomed as loving pets.
“Knowing where she came from and to see her be so loving to everyone, especially to a rabbit, is really spreading awareness to who these dogs really are,” Mindy told The Dodo.
“They are not bad dogs. She wants to be friends with everyone she meets.”
What an inspiring friendship! These two are adorable together and send a positive message about not judging dogs by breed or background. Share this heartwarming story!
