Tink the Dachshund Nurtures Pink the Piglet: A Heartwarming Tale of Inter‑species Care

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Today I received an email that brought a touching story to light: a Dachshund named Tink has adopted a piglet named Pink, nursing him as if he were her own. Tink is fostering Pink for another mother who could no longer care for him. Pink’s eyes were closed when she found him, but now they’re open and bright. Pink is slightly larger than Tink’s other puppies, yet she treats him with a tenderness that sets him apart.

Below is the full email:

“This new mom is also fostering this piglet for another mom who couldn’t take care of him. He had his eyes closed, but now they are open. He is just a little bigger than her other pups. She loves this little guy more than the other puppies and she is nursing him back to health. He is the cleanest ‘puppy’ ever because she licks him all the time.”

Update: Pink and Tink’s handler, Johanna, has written a wonderful children’s book titled Pink the Piglet and Tink the Mommy Dachshund. Click the image below to see more information.

Pink is short for piglet, and Tink is the caring mother Dachshund.

Pink and the puppies nursing.

He nurses all the time.

Sleeping with his siblings.

He is so cute!

Tink is very protective over Pink.

She keeps him close to her.

The family sleeping zzzz.

Seeing animals from entirely different species care for one another is extraordinary. Similar stories include Cashew the seeing‑eye cat and Libby, and even a 100‑year‑old tortoise acting as a mother to a hippo. These heart‑warming examples remind us of the profound bonds we foster in guide‑dog training and the unique relationships dogs can form with humans.

What do you think about Pink, Tink, and her litter? Have you heard of similar stories? Share your thoughts in the comments or email me; I’ll consider posting your story here.

My other dogs, Stetson and Derby, are in guide‑dog training and get along with my sister’s and parents’ cats, but the special dynamic between Tink and Pink is unique. My dog Linus grew up with a kitten named Lulu; they behaved like siblings, chasing each other in the backyard—an 8‑pound cat chasing a 50‑pound dog is a delightful sight.

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