Australian Shepherd sees sick baby cow lying on ground alone and provides comfort he needs
Friendship can come in all shapes and sizes.
Back in 2020, the Gentle Barn, an animal rescue organization, took in a very sickly calf.
They named him John Lewis Thunderfoot
Or Lewis for short.
Lewis was born in a slaughterhouse.
With the cows’ living conditions, Lewis lost his mom at an early age.
Eventually, his lack of nursing opportunities deprived him of essential nutrients that were supposed to fortify his immune system.
Orphaned at just a week old, Lewis was fighting for his life because of pneumonia.
“He had severe pneumonia. He had loud, raspy breathing. He had a deep cough. He had an extremely high temperature,” Ellie Laks said to FOX.
To help Lewis recover, Laks made him stay inside their house so he can rest in a cool and clean environment.
They also provided him with nutritious food to help him recover quickly.
Through Lewis’ journey, however, there was one thing that definitely helped him get back on his feet. As he was laying down, a dog never left his side.
Sky wouldn’t leave his side.
Sky, an Australian Shepherd joined his new brother throughout the process of healing.
“Lewis was so sick, having Sky’s help — cuddling with him while he slept, cleaning his mouth, just nurturing him I think it’s one of the main factors that saved Lewis’s life,” Laks said to FOX.
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They shared everything.
From the bed to toys, and even snacks- it made Lewis feel less alone, and eventually, it was something he kept with him when he finally got back on his feet.
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Their bond went deep.
When the two interacted outside the house for the first time, Laks said it was then that she understood the extent of their friendship.
The moment they got together, the two animals played like they were old friends.
The two tussled and wrestled as if they were two entirely different animals belonging to entirely different weight classes.
Even in their playstyles, their differences show.
Sky bites and nibbles while Lewis gently butts his head on Sky.
Do they even care? Not one bit!
They just want to be together.
The two animals built a kind of language that only they can understand.
Laks conceded that even though Lewis runs wonkily after Sky, and Sky always uses his mouth when playing, the two always make it work.
The time came for Lewis to move.
Eventually, Lewis was transferred to a barn and an enclosure where he could grow up with other cows.
Even at this point, Sky was helping him out. Sky showed Lewis that he can trust the other cows and that it was a safe space for him.
“To use we see a dog and a cow. But to John Lews and Sky, they just see friends.” Laks said to The Dodo. “They see family. They see love. They don’t see their differences. And I wish we could all be more like that.”
Watch how Lewis and Sky developed the bond of a lifetime in the video below!
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Source: YouTube – The Dodo, The Gentle Barn, FOX, Instagram – @thegentlebarn