Isle of Skye lamb '˜adopted' by dog

A newborn lamb, abandoned by its mother and close to death, has been nursed back to life by a German shorthaired pointer dog on the Isle of Skye.

The baby lamb and and shorthaired pointer Jess curl up in bed together. Picture: F Stop Press/Rod Kirkpatrick

And the now the unlikely couple are best friends and go everywhere together, including sleeping in the same bed.

But it could have been a very different ending as the lamb was born a week ago, on one of the coldest days this year with torrential snow, hail and rain, on the Isle of Skye.

The dog’s owner, Lee Mather explained: “I was keeping an eye on my neighbour’s sheep while they were lambing.

“I have no sheep myself and know nothing about lambing.

“The lamb was one of twins and initially both were fine, but when checking on them shortly after, this little lamb hadn’t been cleaned up by his mother, and was completely still and freezing cold.

“He had very little life left.

“I took him indoors not really expecting much, but as soon as I took him in, Jess my three-year-old German shorthaired pointer instantly took to him, cleaning him up and keeping him warm.

DOWNLOAD THE SCOTSMAN APP ON ITUNES OR GOOGLE PLAY