A couple of years ago, the world was introduced to the unlikely friendship of a big dog and a tiny rescue owl. Yes, you read it right – a dog and an owl.
It is quite shocking that a dog with a high prey drive, such as the Belgian Malinois, can be friends with an owl. But, the animal world once again teaches us that innate differences in nature and behavior mean nothing when it comes to true friendship.
Here is the story of an incredible friendship that has melted the hearts of people all over the world.
Capturing The Unlikely Friendship
The main stars of these photos are Ingo, the Belgian Malinois dog, and Napoleon (a.k.a. Poldi), the Owlet.
Their friendship has captivated the hearts of people on the Internet for almost a decade now, ever since photographer Tanja Brandt first posted them on her website and social media.
According to Tanja, Poldi was the smallest hatchling of seven owlets, and he almost didn’t make it out of his shell.
He hatched two days after his other brothers and sisters, and was always the most vulnerable out of the bunch. “He doesn’t know how to live free,” Brandt told PetaPixel.
On the other hand, Ingo comes from a strong family of police dogs, so he has always been very loyal and protective.
So, when little Poldi hatched, Ingo immediately became protective over the Owlet. Ingo is his protector, ride or die.
“I go outside with them together — Napoleon on my hand, Ingo is free running,” Brandt said. “I do the same with my big Harris Hawks, but they are also free and can fly. Not so with Napoleon. It’s too dangerous. Every cat would kill him, he doesn’t know how to live free.”
Their bond is so strong that even the photograph manages to capture the unconditional love.
“They respect each other and can read each other,” Brandt said. Their love and friendship is mutual.
The Magic Of Tanja Brandt Photography
Tanja Brandt is a professional animal photographer from Brilon, Germany.
Both animals belong to her, but she also has a lot of other feathery friends, which are also pictured in her photographs.
Through her lens, Brant immortalizes the endearing moments shared by these two friends, reminding us of the profound connections that can exist beyond the boundaries of species.
Brant’s photographs vividly depict the genuine interactions between the duo, whether they are exchanging loving glances or simply sharing special moments.
One could be called “ruthless” and the other one probably couldn’t hurt a fly, but deep down, they are just two friends who enjoy spending time together.
Sadly, after a terrible accident, Poldi died on August 19, 2019.
“Poldi came to us to change our lives, of Ingo and me. He taught us so much. He gave Ingo the task he was missing, and we experienced so much. It’s so hard to understand that he’s gone…,” Tanja wrote on her website.
Although he is gone, Poldi still lives through Tanja’s photographs, which have captured his soul beautifully and immortalized the magical moments of his and Ingo’s friendship.
If you like Tanja’s photographs and would like to see and learn more about her and her animals, I strongly recommend visiting either her 500px page, Facebook, Instagram, or website.
Read next: Here’s What Happens When A Dog Meets A Magpie
