For Sherry Hairr, her dog’s unusual affection for a furry kitten is a true sign of love.

Hairr found the young cat at her home after it was abandoned by a cat in the neighborhood.

“I just picked it up off the porch,” Hairr said about the baby with closed eyes and ear canals. “It was wet, so I just rolled it up in my shirt.”

The kitten was unable to see or hear the world and needed its mother for survival. Hairr knew she had to do something, so she began bottle-feeding it.

“It started crying,” she said about making several attempts to offer nourishment. “I was trying to get it to drink the milk from out of the bottle.”

But the motherly instincts of Lilly took over when the chihuahua mix began nursing the kitty when it was close by on a bed.

“She wouldn’t stay away from it and she wouldn’t go outside,” Hairr said about Lilly’s protective nature. “She wanted to be right there with that kitten.”

It’s something she’s never seen before. The animal lover contacted a veterinarian to learn more about abnormal situation.

“It’s very unusual, but it’s not unheard of,” she said. “It’s love, love, love.”

The young cat has found a home with a caring adoptive mother. Hairr is attached too and enjoys grooming it with a little brush. Her neighbors have also stopped by.

“Everyone is astonished about how that dog looks out for that kitten,” she said. “It’s really cute.”

At 4 weeks old, its eyes are open and is no longer snuggled under a blanket. Now, Hairr is wondering what to name the once helpless animal.

“Rover, Fido? What are we going to name this kitten,” Hairr questioned with a chuckle. “My sister calls it ‘sugar’ and I spoke with my grandchildren and I told them I may give it a dog’s name. Lilly is not going to know it’s a cat.”

Reach Chase Jordan at 910-249-4617. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.

Local dog adopts, nurses abandoned kitten

By Chase Jordan

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Sherry Hairr’s dog, Lilly, nurses an abandoned kitten.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_Pet_1-1.jpgSherry Hairr’s dog, Lilly, nurses an abandoned kitten.

An abandoned kitten seeks refuge at the home Sherry Hairr.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_Pet_2-1.jpgAn abandoned kitten seeks refuge at the home Sherry Hairr.