Hogan and Bella

What could be more endearing than seeing a helpless little fawn being cared for by a mighty hunter?

The dog in the photo at right is Ch. Bowbridge Croc (aka “Hogan"), a champion Rhodesian Ridgeback owned by Jennifer Aftanas of Vancouver, British Columbia. From the story by Valerie Wilson, published in Vancouver Island’s “Nanaimo Daily News” on August 13, 2004:

Meantime Hogan, weighing in at about 100 pounds, decided - to the amazement of his owners that he too would lend a hand in helping young Bella recover. Originally bred in South Africa to hunt lions, hence the breed’s older name African Lion Hound. Hogan began fussing over the youngster. He kept a watchful eye over Bella, grooming her and even allowing her to cuddle up beside him in his bed. “You can come on my bed and I’m going to clean your ears!” Aftanas said of Hogan’s affection for the fawn. He looked after Bella cleaning her and helping out until she was well enough to go for recovery"

Read the whole thing.

Thanks, mom. Click on the photo for a larger view.