Meet Barney and Ava!
Barney is a Labrador. Ava is a teeny tiny kitten.
At a quick glance, they don’t seem to have much in common, other than being cute and furry. However, their rocky starts to life have brought them together and created an unbreakable bond.
When she was just a few days old, Ava was discovered freezing cold and abandoned in a garden in London. Things actually weren’t looking good. She likely would have died had she not been immediately rushed to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
Once she arrived at the centre, the kitten was accepted in by dedicated Battersea Vet Nurse Megan Goldring, who needed to hand-feed little Ava every two hours and make sure she stays warm and cosy.
It was there at the centre that Ava met Barney.
Barney is a young, three-year-old Labrador. He was born on a puppy farm and then later handed to owners who weren’t able to deal with a lively puppy. His owners dropped him off at Battersea in 2014, where he met Head Nurse Rachel Ab’dee.
Rachel absolutely fell in love and adopted Barney soon afterwards.
When Barney and Ava met, the connection was truly instant. Barney gladly took on babysitting duties, letting Ava snooze in his bed, rest on his paws, and play with his tail.
Barney takes his parental duties quite seriously. He now spends most of his days snuggling with Ava, playing with her, and keeping an extremely close eye around the Battersea office to make sure the kitten is safe at all times.
‘Barney adores Ava and can’t wait to come into Battersea every morning so he can see her,’ explains Rachel.
‘It’s great for Ava too, because she doesn’t have a mum or brothers or sisters, so Barney has become her best friend and favourite playmate. It’s wonderful to see them so happy together and to know that their most difficult days are behind them.’
What an adorable couple!
