Dachshund That Cared for Orphaned Rabbit Heartbroken When New Pal Is Sent to Rescue Center

A dachshund that befriended a newborn rabbit after his owners found the motherless kit in their backyard, in McKinney, Texas, appeared to be heartbroken when the furry baby was handed to rehabbers back in 2021.

The adorable video was recorded by Gina Mack, and shows Gram the dachshund bonding with a small cottontail rabbit that Mack and her husband named Dash.

Mack told Storyful that the couple found two kits after landscapers cleaned weeds in their backyard, and decided to care for the babies after realizing that the mother was not coming back.

“All of the wildlife rescues in the area were overloaded with cottontails, and no one would accept another,” Mack said. “We put our names on the waitlist for three of them, and while we waited, we took care of these two babies.”

Mack said that she asked rehabbers how to care for Dash, after the other kit died.

“One main point that they brought up was that they have to constantly be warm so this is when Gram stepped in,” she said. “He really took the role of Dash’s mother at this point. [He] was very protective and would constantly cuddle him and watch over anyone that was coming near him.”

The couple got a positive call from a wildlife rescue three days later, and the family had to say goodbye to Dash.

“You could tell that Gram knew something was going on because he was just very uneasy, and when we came home he was really upset for at least two or three days because he was missing Dash,” Mack said.

Dash was released in the wild a few weeks later, when rescuers deemed that he was “strong enough to survive on his own.” Credit: Gina Mack via Storyful

Video Transcript

GINA MACK: OK, Gram. OK, Gram. He doesn't like licks.

Say bye.

- (ON TV) Turn your back on this poor girl or so help me. Unless you're afraid to LOOL again.