A 15-year-old Labrador Retriever named Fred has had a lifelong nurturing nature, even toward animals that some dogs might consider prey. He has knowledge of ducklings and has experience in taking care of ducklings that have lost their mother.
This year, Fred “adopted” his third batch of ducklings after their mother went missing. He may not look like the parent you would expect for a flock of birds, but he takes his role very seriously. If the mother duck does not return, Fred will continue to care for the chicks until they can survive on their own.
Famous duckling father
Fred lives at Mountfitchet Castle in Essex, England, along with many other domesticated animals. 2018 was the first time he showed interest in ducks. He took care of a flock of nine orphaned ducklings, and a year later he received 14 more. He had to take a break from his parenting duties for a while, but now he’s taking on a new challenge.
A duck named Mary had 15 ducklings at the castle this year, but then it disappeared. There is no indication that a predator killed her, so her disappearance is a mystery. The staff of the attraction hope Mary returns because she is a good mother of the ducklings.
RELATED: Hero dog saves besieged friends from crocodile attack
But in the meantime, Fred is taking care of the ducklings like his own. Like his past experiences, he steps up to help without encouragement. His relationship with the ducklings will melt anyone’s heart!
“He was our very own stay-at-home dad,” says owner Jeremy Goldsmith. “Fred is a bit creaker than he was last time tending the ducklings but he still has a very good caretaker nature and that is amazing to see.”
Fred protects his furry friends
Mountfitchet Castle has posted lots of photos of Fred with his new ducklings. The photos show ducklings cuddling next to him, and sometimes riding on his back. The ducklings didn’t seem to realize it was a completely different species.
Goldsmith said: “I think Fred benefits from having a role to play in life and he enjoys being part of the family here at the castle. “In the more than 15 years of owning it, Fred has spent a lot of time at the castle with the animals, and it has become second nature to him among the various rescued animals. .”
Goldsmith hopes the ducklings will stay with Fred until they grow up or until their biological mother returns. Until then, Mountfitchet Castle will continue to flood their social media feeds with touching content about the senior dog and the many ducklings he has taken care of.
Featured pictures: Facebook
