Puppy and pigeon snuggle in adorable viral photos
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Lundy, a 2-month-old Chihuahua who can’t walk, and Herman, a pigeon who can’t fly, have become internet sensations after photos of the two went viral on social media.
Last week, the pair were nestled in the same dog bed at The Mia Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Hilton, New York, that rescues, rehabilitates and helps find homes for animals with birth defects and special needs.
Extreme cuteness ensued and was captured on a smartphone by Sue Rogers, who runs the group with her husband, Gary.
Since then, Lundy and Herman’s story has gone viral, and Rogers has been contacted by journalists on every continent “except Antarctica.”
“Just Google ‘Chihuahua and pigeon,’” Rogers said in disbelief. “It’s out of control.”
Rogers couldn't have foreseen that when she placed Herman in a dog bed on Feb. 13 at The Mia Foundation, whose work stretches across the country. The bird, who she took in about a year-and-a-half ago after someone spotted him sitting unnaturally still in a parking lot, spends part of his days in a playpen.
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But, “I try to do enrichment and move him around from room to room, so he has different scenery,” said Rogers, adding that Herman’s inability to fly was caused either by a virus or an accident.
The bed, with Herman in it, was nearby when Rogers needed to momentarily set down Lundy, who can't use his hind legs for reasons that still aren't clear and came to The Mia Foundation from a breeder in South Carolina.
“I didn’t know how Herman would react” to Lundy, Rogers said. “Would he try to peck him or snap him with his wing? So I put my hand between the two of them and then slowly moved it away, and the reaction was very cute. Herman kind of looked at Lundy sideways. And then Lundy tried to crawl over to Herman.”
Rogers grabbed her phone, “I took the pictures and uploaded them. … And the rest is history.”
In the wake of Facebook superstardom, Lundy and Herman now have their own Instagram account, @lundyandherman, and a deal for a children’s book.
The publicity also has generated more than $10,000 in donations for The Mia Foundation, which started eight years ago and is named for Rogers' late dog, Mia, who was born with a cleft palate.
Rogers said that since last week she has continued to bring Lundy and Herman together for visits “a couple times of day, but supervised only.”
This article originally appeared on Democrat and Chronicle: Chihuahua and pigeon snuggle in viral photos from The Mia Foundation
