A Canine Nurse


[May 18, 1895.]



Being a frequent reader of anecdotes of the sagacity of animals in your

paper, I think you may consider the following trait of character in a

dog worthy of notice. Jack, a rough-haired fox-terrier of quiet

disposition, but a good ratter, and an inveterate enemy to strange or

neighbouring cats, of whom, to my sorrow, he has slain at least one,

became without effort the attached friend of a
inute kitten introduced

into the house last November. This friendship has been continued without

intermission, and is reciprocated by the now full-grown cat. She,

unfortunately, got caught in a rabbit-trap not long ago, but escaped

with no further injury than a lacerated paw, which for some time caused

her much pain and annoyance. Every morning Jack was to be seen tenderly

licking the paw of the interesting invalid, to which kind nursing no

doubt her rapid recovery may be attributed; and though she is now more

than convalescent and able to enjoy her usual game of play, he still

greets her each morning with a gentle inquiring lick on the injured paw,

just to see if it is all right, before proceeding to roll her over in

their accustomed gambols. This seems to me a marked instance of

individual affection overcoming race-antipathy.



BLANCHE ROCHFORT.



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