Such was the remarkable story of a rescue dog who transformed into a guardian and cherished companion for an orphaned foal. Karla Swindle, the proprietor of S & K Quarter Horses in Fayette, Alabama, encountered this heartwarming tale. Several years ago, Karla had to make the difficult decision to euthanize Sandy, a 22-year-old mare, due to her declining health.

The loss was particularly devastating for Sandy’s foal, Tye, who was left without a mother at a tender age of just 9 days old. However, an unexpected source of solace soon emerged in the form of Karla’s dog, Zip.

“Zip stayed with me in the alley of the barn all night – the foal was laying in the alley, and he just lay there beside the foal,” Karla shared with The Dodo.

Recognizing the heartbreak experienced by Tye, Karla observed that Zip remained by the foal’s side throughout the night, providing comfort with a sympathetic paw.

“He was laying there by his neck, and the dog was whining, like crying,” Karla expressed to the Lewiston Tribune, as reported by IHeartDogs. “It just broke my heart.”

Although Tye lost his mother that fateful night, he discovered a newfound companion in Zip. The dog swiftly embraced the role of being the foal’s loyal friend and guardian.

“I think he’s adopted it as his baby,” Karla remarked. “He’s letting him know ‘you’re not alone.’”

Dogs possess a remarkable emotional intelligence and often exhibit a keen sense of understanding when someone has passed away. In this case, it appeared that Zip comprehended the situation and extended a helping paw to the orphaned foal.

“We raise foals every year, and he would kind of look in the door and just look at them,” Karla shared with The Dodo. “You could tell Zip knew something was wrong that night.”

“This is the first time he has ever just licked on one, nudged one, laid on one,” Karla revealed to the Tribune.

“Every time I would head towards the barn, Zip would dash to the stall and position himself in front, eagerly awaiting my arrival,” Karla recounted to The Dodo. “He would always beat me to the barn.”

“As soon as I opened the door, he would nearly knock me down in his excitement. If the foal happened to be lying down, he would go over there and rest his head on him.”

It was clear that Zip’s bond with the foal was profound, as he demonstrated unprecedented affection and concern towards him.