MOUNT VERNON — Two female dogs owned by Tiffany Hull and Drew Johnson of Mount Vernon, Chaos and Atilla, are usually guarding their home and chasing other animals away, but six weeks ago they showed their softer side when Chaos found a newborn kitten.
Chaos, an 8-year-old kelpie mix, found the kitten by the family’s backyard fence, its eyes still closed.
“She had this thing in her mouth,” Hull said, adding the dog brought it to them while they were outside. “Drew told her to drop it, and he put it back.”
Hull said they were amazed their dog didn’t harm the kitten, and said their dog has been a good hunter over the years.
Chaos brought a different kitten to the family that night, which was later given away, and the original kitten, now named Jack, was discovered in another part of the yard the next morning. The mother cat wasn’t found.
“Her mother instincts kicked in,” Hull said of Chaos. “She protected him for about a week from Atilla.”
Atilla is a 7-year-old half-Labrador half-pitbull mix, and when she was able to get near the kitten, acted just as motherly as Chaos.
“Atilla would lay down by the kitten all day,” Hull said.
Both dogs lick the kitten to clean him, and they watch over him.
The family nursed Jack to health with a bottle and kitten formula, and now, at 6 weeks, the kitten is thriving.
“Chaos is a rescue dog herself,” Hull said. “She just has a big heart.”
