3 min read Little Pig Is Pretty Sure She's Really A Puppy

Little Penelope is quite clearly a tiny piglet - but shhh, don't her that. She appears to be quite convinced that she's actually a puppy. And her furry friends seem more than happy to back her up on that.

Claudio De Nigris

Penelope was rescued after being rejected by her mother shortly after birth. Now she lives on a farm sanctuary in Eboli, Italy, run by animal lover Claudio De Nigris. She's fitting right in.

Claudio De Nigris

Penelope spent the first fragile weeks under constant care indoors, requiring regular feedings to build her strength. But eventually, even the tiniest piglet must get out and play. De Nigris's five dogs, who were likewise rescued, have been happy to oblige her.

Claudio De Nigris

"Penelope is brought almost every day into the yard in the presence of her canine friends," De Nigris told The Dodo. "They all take care of her, licking and nudging her with their muzzles, making it clear that they would like to play."

Claudio De Nigris

Claudio De Nigris

The dogs are obviously smitten with their new little playmate.

Claudio De Nigris

"I know it looks like a fairy tale," says De Nigris. "But it's very real."

Claudio De Nigris

As is often the case with such amicable interspecies relationships, there's a lesson in it that the rest of us can truly benefit from. That's something not lost on De Nigris. "Above all, animal friendships teach us humans the value of respect and love," he says. "We can learn to make a better world from watching them."

Claudio De Nigris