A giant farm dog and a tiny piglet cuddle up as if they were family after the baby runt was dismissed by its own mother.
Surrogate mum Katjinga, an eight-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback, took on motherly duties for grunter Paulinchen - a tiny pot-bellied pig - and seems to be taking the adoption in her stride. Lonely Paulinchen was luckily discovered moments from death and placed in the care of the dog who gladly accepted it as one of her own. Thankfully for the two-week old mini porker, Katjinga fell in love with her at first sight and saved her bacon.
Motherly love: Baby piglet feeds on its new surrogate mum
And the unlikely relationship has made the wrinkly piggy a genuine sausage dog. In these adorable images Paulinchen can even be seen trying to suckle from her gigantic new mum.
The two animals live together on a huge 20-acre farm in Hoerstel, Germany, where Katjinga’s owners Roland Adam, 54, and his wife Edit, 44, a bank worker, keep a pair of breeding Vietnamese pigs.
Nose place like home: The baby piglet nuzzles up to its new mum
Property developer Roland found the weak and struggling piglet after she was abandoned by the rest of her family one evening after she was born.
He said: “The pigs run wild on our land and the sow had given birth to a litter of five in our forest
“I found Paulinchen all alone and when I lifted her up she was really cold.
Feeding time: Piglet’s new canine mother has no problem providing milk for the youngster
“I felt sure some local foxes would have taken the little pig that very night so I took it into my house and gave her to Katjinga.
“She had just finished with a litter of her own, who are now 10 months, so I thought there was a chance she might take on the duties of looking after her.
“Katjinga is the best mother you can imagine. She immediately fell in love with the piggy. Straight away she started to clean it like it was one of her own puppies.
“Days later she started lactating again and giving milk for the piggy. She obviously regards it now as her own baby.”
Mum of the year? Quite possibly.

Her name is Katie Kirkpatrick, 21 yrs old. Next to her is her fiancé, Nick, 23.This picture was taken prior to their wedding January 11th, 2005. Katie has terminal cancer and spends hours in chemotherapy.Here Nick awaits while she finishes one of the sessions… Even in pain and dealing with her organs shutting down, with the help of morphine, Katie took care of every single part of the wedding planning.Her dress had to be adjusted several times due to Katie’s constant weight loss. An expected guest was her oxygen tank. Katie had to use it during the ceremony and reception.The other couple in this picture is Nick’s parents, very emotional with the wedding and of course to see their son marrying the girl he fell in love when he was an adolescent. Katie, in a wheel chair listening to her husband and friends singing to her. In the middle of the party, Katie had to rest for a bit and catch her breath. The pain does not allow her to stand for long period of time. Katie died 5 days after her wedding. To see a fragile woman dressed as a bride with a beautiful smile makes you think… happiness is always there within reach, no matter how long it lasts…..lets enjoy life and don’t live a complicated life.
Life is too short.
Work as if it was your first day.
Forgive as soon as possible.
Love without boundaries.
Laugh without controland never stop smiling.
Please pray for those suffering from cancer.
We all have close to our heart.
Keep this going.Prayers are always answered.
Attitudes are contagious, Is yours worth catching?
 Dear God:The lady reading thisis beautiful, classy andstrong, and I love her.
Help her live her life tothe fullest.
Please promote her andcause her to excel above her expectations.
Help her shine in thedarkest places where it is impossible to love.
Protect her at alltimes, lift her up when she needs you the most, and let her know when she walks with you, She will always be safe.