Andy, an energetic and endlessly curious Weimaraner, recently gave his owner quite a scare after one of his backyard adventures took an unexpected turn.
Named after Andy Bernard from the TV show “The Office,” the playful pup loves spending time exploring the yard and investigating every little thing he can find.
But one day, Andy’s mom noticed him acting strangely.
The dog was pacing around nervously and seemed determined to hide whatever he had in his mouth. When she finally got a closer look, she was shocked to see a pair of tiny legs dangling from between his jaws.
Andy had picked up a baby rabbit.
Alarmed, the woman immediately tried convincing Andy to drop the tiny animal. She offered treats and calmly told him to open his mouth, but the stubborn pup refused. Instead, he continued holding the baby rabbit as gently as possible, almost as if he believed he was protecting it.
Even though Andy clearly didn’t want to hurt the bunny, the situation was still dangerous. Dogs naturally carry bacteria in their mouths that can seriously harm small wildlife, so quick action was important.
Then, to his owner’s surprise, Andy suddenly seemed to understand exactly what needed to happen.
The clever dog led his mom across the yard directly to a hidden rabbit nest where he had apparently found the baby. Once they reached the burrow, Andy carefully released the tiny rabbit, giving his owner the chance to check for injuries.
Wrapping the little bunny in a towel, the woman gently examined him and discovered that he was completely unharmed.
“OK, let’s bring you back,” she said softly in a video captured during the rescue.
She carefully returned the baby rabbit to the nest, where it immediately snuggled safely beside its siblings.
Wanting to make sure the rabbit family stayed protected, Andy’s mom later placed a barrier around the burrow to keep curious visitors away.
Thanks to one surprisingly gentle dog and his owner’s quick thinking, the tiny rabbit family was able to remain safe and undisturbed in their backyard home.
Follow rescuer Jon on Instagram.
Disclaimer: Dogs' mouths can carry bacteria dangerous to wildlife that comes into contact with it. It's important to try to keep pets away from wildlife. If direct contact does occur, make sure to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
