50 Unlikely animal friends prove it’s not where you are but who you’re with that matters

There’s nothing more wholesome than an animal friendship. Any pet owner will know that it’s always a bit risky to introduce animals to one another, especially if they’ve always been used to a solitary life. But when animals do get together, the unlikeliest – and most adorable – bonds can form.

If you’re ready to give up on 2020 already, these photos are exactly the kind of positivity you need to see!

1. Pelican and stray dog

One man noticed that a stray dog was often hanging out along the boat docs close to where he lived. He decided to adopt the dog, but he realized it was still important to bring the dog back to see his pelican friend on a daily basis. No word on the dog’s name, but the pelican is called Petey.

2. Dog and owl

Dogs are gentle giants, and, in fact, it often works out that the bigger the breed, the calmer a dog tends to be. This German Shephard is proving his own gentle spirit after befriending a sweet little owl. The way she cuddles up to his face is just too precious.

3. Big and small

Friends come in all shapes and sizes, as proven by this elephant and dog double-act. Known respectively as Bubbles the African elephant and Bella the black Labrador. They’re clearly living their best lives – just look at their joyful faces!

4. Wolf and bear

You wouldn’t want to come across either of these two on a hike, especially not while they were together! Perhaps they use their friendship to more effectively catch their prey, but we’re hoping it’s something more wholesome than this. Maybe they just have a lot to say to each other.

5. Dog and racoon

Some people see racoons as pests, but not dogs. To this dog, his racoon friend is just another opportunity to have some fun. They’re posing for this photo like a pair of human friends would. It’s clear the love between the two is mutual.

6. Dog-oat

This person’s aunt has a goat that’s convinced it’s a dog. It won’t hang out with the other goats, preferring to spend its time with its Chihuahua bestie. We can totally see why – dogs are much more fun, and even goats need a bit of excitement in their lives.

7. Unlikely family

This cat and deer might not look like they’re your typical family, but they definitely act the part. Apparently, the two often meet up in the cat’s back garden and hang out together. Wonder what they talk about?

8. Horse and dog

We’re not surprised that so many of these unusual animal pairings involve a dog, with them being such sociable beings. But have you ever seen a dog stand on his hind legs and pet a horse’s head like this? He looks so proud to have managed it, too!

9. Friends through the years

Everyone knows that the best time to introduce animals is when they’re young. Like human kids, animal babies are far more likely to be socially accepting of their peers than when they’re adults. But this pup and cheetah’s friendship has stood the test of time – as adults, they’re still besties now.

10. Alpaca pals

Alpacas might just be the floofiest animals out there, which makes them adorable by default. This pair’s friendship makes them even cuter, and their chubby grins say it all. They’re clearly the best of mates.

11. Friends through thick and thin

Life isn’t designed to be easy from start to finish, which is why friends are so important. When the tough times hit, friends can take care of you and keep you sane. This Golden Retriever was keen to show his Spaniel friend that he’s here for him after his operation. Too precious.

12. Two joeys and a kitty

In most parts of the world, a cat would run a mile if it came across a kangaroo – they’re not exactly common. But this kitty looks right at ease with her two new joey friends. Maybe they can teach her a thing or two about kangaroo hopping!

13. Kitten and owl

Cats are typically stereotyped as bird haters, and while this does tend to be true a good 90% of the time, this picture proves that unlikely friendships can form between the two. This kitten is on such good terms with her owl friend that the two even snuggle up to bed together. N’aww.

14. Dog and swan

“The Dog And Swan” sounds like the name of a quaint British countryside pub, but it’s a reality for this pair of unlikely friends. Golden Retrievers are one of the most docile dog breeds, so it’s unsurprising to see this doggo grinning away as his swan friend poses next to him in the photo.

15. Short and tall

If our dog and elephant friendship wasn’t enough to convince you that animals of all sizes can form bonds, this giraffe and meerkat should. The pair hang out in neighboring enclosures at the zoo, and Mr Giraffe often pops his head in to see his meerkat pal when he’s passing by.

16. Cat and tortoise

We know cats well enough to be pretty sure on what led to this situation: the cat got into the warmth of the tortoise’s enclosure, and now has to put up with his friend crawling all over him. Hence the slightly annoyed expression. The good news is, when cats look annoyed, there’s a 50% chance that they’re actually enjoying the attention.

17. Big grins

Foxes don’t often come out of the wild for anything or anyone – apparently, according to this photo, with the exception of dogs. We can see why this fox was so attracted to his canine pal. If we were an animal, dogs would probably be the only other species that we could fully trust.

18. Friends through it all

Getting sent to a shelter is every dog’s worst nightmare, but these two formed a friendship that helped them to get through the ordeal together. Even better, their now-owner saw them sleeping together and decided to adopt them both together. As it should be – there was no splitting them up for anything!

19. Fighting the stereotype

Another cat stereotype is that dogs are their sworn enemy. Remember all the cartoons that used to show dogs chasing cats around the neighborhood? This pair are proof that both cats and dogs can open up their hearts to one another. It’s all about what they’re raised with.

20. Abandoned kitty and Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers make good moms to pretty much any animal, especially kittens. If you want proof, just search “golden retriever kittens” into YouTube – you’ll be spoilt for choice. After this girl’s owners rescued a tiny kitten, she took it into her paws to keep the little one safe and warm.

21. Small comforts

You don’t have to be the biggest thing in your friend’s life to show them that you’re there for them – literally, in this case. This tiny kitten came to camp out in her Golden Retriever friend’s pet cone as he lay somewhat miserably on the floor. Whether she’s here to help or she’s just looking for shade, we’re sure the sentiment was appreciated.

22. Dog and rescued calf

There must be something in a dog’s nature that senses when another animal (or human!) is in need of a bit of extra love. While you wouldn’t usually see a dog cozying up to a calf like this, the calf in question had been rescued, and the Blue Merle Collie knew he had to keep her safe.

23. Neighbor dogs

As humans, most of us feel too socially awkward to approach our neighbors when we hear them out in the garden. But dogs are completely different – they’re happy to poke their heads over the garden fence and see what’s happening on the other side. This person’s neighbor sent them an adorable pic of their dogs checking in one afternoon.

24. Dog and cows

Dogs aren’t only friends with calves, either! This dog has some big besties in the field, in the form of two Brown Swiss cows. They look like two grandmas having a catch-up with him after not seeing him for a while! And he’s clearly loving the affection.

25. Friends through similarities

Both this adorable Chihuahua and pigeon have special needs. Lundy is a Chihuahua who can’t walk, and Herman is a pigeon that can’t fly. The pair of kindred spirits have bonded over their similarities, and are now the best of friends. Too cute.

26. Boarin’ around

Who else immediately thinks of The Lion King when they see this wild boar piglet? Especially as she has an unlikely friend in this Jack Russell pup. The only difference is that they spend their time hanging out in long grass, not African desert.

27. To close for parting

Have you ever had such an amazing day with a friend that you can’t bear to leave them when it’s over? These pandas know how it feels – every day is an adventure, and they hate the thought of being separated. Luckily, the three weren’t apart for long.

28. Bird and dog

Crows don’t often come down from their treetop nests, and for good reason – there are all sorts of predators on the ground. But this little guy must have sensed a kind spirit in his German Shephard friend, and the pair can often be seen taking walks around the yard, almost looking like they’re in conversation.

29. New pals

We all know that rush of adrenaline you get when you make a new friend at work or at school. These doggos met at doggy daycare, and they clearly hit it off big time. Just look at their identical grins! Something tells us there will be many more playdates in the future.

30. Quick kisses

This person walks their dog along the same route every day. Whenever they reach a certain gate, a pair of horses come over to greet their canine friend. Kisses are exchanged, then the pup and his owner go on their way. If only us humans were capable of being so sociable!

31. Safari friends

The great thing about safaris is that they give us an idea of how animals hang out in the wild, just on a much smaller scale. You’d never imagine that a baby elephant and an ostrich would choose to hang out together, but that’s exactly what this pair choose to do. They look totally at ease with one another.

32. Inseparable cats

There’s plenty of advice online about whether you should get a companion for a lone cat, and many people agree that it’s the right thing to do. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t some risk with introducing cats to one another. Luckily, when this person brought home a rescued kitty, their original cat took to her new friend straight away.

33. Chimp and tiger cubs

Chimps are mammals that are supposed to be most like us humans, and you can definitely see a human-like motherly affection in the way this chimp cuddles and plays with the little tiger cubs. Let’s hope her intervention helps them to grow up with a little more acceptance for their fellow animals!

34. Torque and Shrek

Torque the dog and Shrek the owl certainly make a random pairing, but they don’t let their differences get in the way of their friendship! It looks like they’re arguing over whose turn it is for the remote.

35. Cheetah and dog

Apparently, cheetahs and dogs of a similar size are often paired together to optimize socialization, as well as to relieve anxiety in the cheetahs. Of course, as many of us humans know, dogs are the best companions for relieving anxiety, so this pairing completely makes sense. Look how happy the two of them are!

36. Dog and duck

This little duckling looks like he’s about to grow out of his fuzzy feathers and transform into a fully-fledged adult duck. But he never has to be too alone and responsible in the world, because his doggo friend will always be there to support him. That’s what mates are for.

37. Farmyard friends

This piglet and deer friendship reminds us of children’s farmyard books, where all the animals were the best of friends. You don’t see it much in real life, which is why this friendship is so special. They look pretty comfortable together.

38. Best buds

We should all take a leaf out of a dog’s book when it comes to making friends. Dogs don’t care what each other looks like. They’ll make friends in spite of appearance or interests – as long as the other is up for fun, they’ll welcome him into their family. If only making friends was as simple for humans.

39. Duckling and doggo

Chicks of any species are just too cute to resist, and apparently this doggo feels the same way about his new friend. Though the duckling might be as small as the dog’s snout, it’s clear he’s the dominant one in the relationship. Just look at him practicing his quack!

40 Backpacking cat

One of the spirit-building benefits of having friends is that they can push you out of your comfort zone. While this cat looks a little apprehensive to be (literally) backpacking with her Golden Retriever friend, he makes sure to keep her safe while she experiences life outside of her comfort zone!

41. Horse and husky

If there was a competition for the most aesthetically pleasing duo, this horse and husky would take the prize. Sitting afore a snowy backdrop, they look majestic with their similar coloring – almost like something out of a fantasy movie.

42. Puppy friends

It’s always a proud parent moment when your kid makes a friend. In this case, this dog mom had plenty to coo over when her Labrador puppy befriended a German Shephard puppy. There’s something ridiculously cute about pups – their tiny stubby tails and butter-wouldn’t-melt eyes.

43. Goat and sheep

Being so similar in appearance, you’d think goats and sheep would spend more time hanging out together than they actually do. But this pair aren’t afraid to cozy up together, and their content faces say it all. Life in the fields must be much more fun with a friend like this by your side.

44. Tinni and Sniffer

Can you guess who is who on these adorable photos? Tinni is the German Shephard and Sniffer is the wild fox. The pair love exploring the forest together. With their similarly bushy tails and pointed ears, perhaps they’ve mistaken each other for another of their kind.

45. Cat-rat duo

Of all the unlikely friendships in the world, this is perhaps one of the biggest. Who would’ve thought a cat and a rat could be besties? We all know Tom and Jerry and Itchy and Scratchy, and while those might denote relationships between cats and mice, the stereotype is there. We’re glad the pair were able to see past their differences.

47. Dog and racoon

Who knew that dog and racoon friendships were common enough to be more than just a one-off? Here’s another canine cuddling up with his fuzzy racoon mate. With their eyes closed and a happy smile on the dog’s face, you can tell that these two go way back.

47. The fox and hound

When this rescue dog was fostered by a dog owner, they had no idea how their bulldog would take to the new member of the household. To everyone’s relief, the pair bonded quickly, and are now inseparable. It’s like a real-life version of The Fox And Hound!

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Kennedy News And Media

48. Fox and cat

We’ve already seen a fox and a dog, but this fox must have been extra-brave, because he decided to befriend a cat. They make a really photogenic pair – but they’re not afraid of some rough-and-tumble on the floor. It’s all good-natured, of course.

49. Horsing around

Kittens are known for being inquisitive, even when they’re so tiny they can barely walk. This kitten was keen to check out her farmyard friend, apparently feeling no fear at the size difference! Luckily, horses are gentle creatures, so there’s no danger here.

50. The best of friends

How do you know when animals trust one another? The easiest way to be certain is if the pair fall asleep together. This cat certainly looks pretty sleepy, and she’s discovered an unconventional bed in her doggo friend’s back. Looks like they’ve had a long hike!

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