A Labrador retriever with prior experience of being a foster dad has recently taken 15 orphaned ducklings under his paw.
The ducklings were orphaned when their mother mysteriously disappeared from the castle one night. However, not wanting to leave them alone, Fred immediately stepped up to care for them.
A short video clip shows the ducklings lying on Fred’s back in the sun, around his paws, and even getting a piggyback ride from him.
The ducklings are expected to be with Fred until they’re old enough to survive by themselves.
For Fred’s owner, Jeremy Goldsmith, this doesn’t come as a surprise.
In 2018, Fred, then aged 10, acted as a surrogate parent to nine orphaned ducklings. He cared for them until they were old enough to blend into the medieval castle grounds with the other animals that roam freely within the site.
The following year, Fred again stepped into his role as a foster dad and cared for 7-day-old ducklings.
When Fred was introduced to the abandoned ducklings, he immediately laid down with them to keep them warm. Witnessing this heartwarming gesture, the castle owner and staff breathed a sigh of relief.
“He took to his role like a duck to water,” the Facebook post read. “Within minutes, the ducklings accepted their odd-looking new mum and were climbing all over him.”
