A few years ago, a stray cat was seen wandering around the grounds of the Farm Animal Rescue and Rehoming Movement, an animal sanctuary in Alberta, Canada.
A cautious new arrival
She was wary of humans and would run away at the first opportunity. Volunteers often spotted her, especially when they were putting out food for the other animals on site.
The volunteers decided to name her Jade. A little later, they discovered she had given birth to three kittens in a bale of hay. They managed to bring her and her kittens to safety. Once the kittens were weaned and everyone had been neutered, Jade was released back outside. But this time, she didn't immediately run off into the wild.
An extraordinary friendship
That's when Gordo, a little pig with a difficult past, came into her life. Gordo had arrived at the sanctuary with heart problems that had stunted his growth. He lived away from the other pigs in a small, heated cabin to protect his fragile health.
Surprisingly, Jade started to approach Gordo. The two animals share their food, with Jade often licking the yoghurt from Gordo's plate. They frequently stay close to one another, even when there are no volunteers around.
It was a friendship that helped the cat to change. The once-cautious feline became more open to human contact.
"Animals always act from the heart," explained Melissa Foley, the farm's owner and operator.
