Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Rescue Dog And Tiny Hedgehog Form Unlikely Friendship To The Delight Of Instagram Fans

Rescue Dog And Tiny Hedgehog Form Unlikely Friendship To The Delight Of Instagram Fans

There is nothing prickly about the friendship between these two rescued pals – despite predictions that the stray dog was too anxious to befriend other animals and the nervous disposition of the hedgehog.


Now taking Instagram – where they have thousands of followers – by storm, they were brought together by physiotherapy assistant Victoria Wright, 28, who first adopted Welsh terrier mix pooch Rosie from a local shelter in April 2014, followed by African pygmy hedgehog, Olive, in July this year.

The unlikely mates are now inseparable, playing and snuggling up together at her house in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England where their touching friendship has even helped Victoria to address her own problems with anxiety, which had become so bad she was afraid to leave the house.

Totally smitten with the adorable pair, she said:

“Rosie had a really tough beginning. She was found as a stray in a bad way. She had barely any fur on her ears and scarring on her nose."
“She was in the shelter for months before I found her. Hearing that gutted me – it was heartbreaking to feel like nobody wanted her."
“But when I saw her, I loved her right away. Her and Olive are great with each other, too. Olive may be tiny, but she rules the roost."

Rosie when Victoria first adopted her (PA Real Life/Collect)

After bringing Rosie, who had been languishing in a rescue centre for around five months, home in April 2014, Victoria started slowly encouraging her to come out of her shell.

And while she is still an anxious dog who hates loud and sudden noises, she has far surpassed the expectations of professionals, who warned that her disposition was so nervous she may never be able to mix with other dogs.

Victoria, who has paid for £2,000 (about $2,500) worth of veterinary treatment for her beloved pooch, which included hydrotherapy, said:

“They told me initially that we may never be able to let Rosie off her lead, as she wouldn't be good with other dogs."

Victoria with Rosie the day she went to meet her (PA Real Life/Collect)

She added:

“The first time I took her for a proper walk was such a big thing. She is still very nervous, but is so friendly and absolutely loves playing."
“When she sees her dog friends, she gets absolutely ecstatic."

A lifelong fan of hedgehogs, in time, Victoria decided one would make the perfect pet to add to her little family.

Olive (PA Real Life/@olive_the_hedgehog_)

She added:

“I found one up for adoption locally, as the owner could no longer take care of it. I've always loved hedgehogs so I jumped at the chance."
“I was a little bit worried about how Rosie would be around my new addition, but I figured that I could keep them apart if needed, especially as the hedgehog would mainly be living in its own little house."

So, in July this year, Victoria brought little Olive, who is two, home with her.

Olive and Rosie meeting for the first time (PA Real Life/@olive_the_hedgehog_)

Recalling the animals' first meeting, she said:

“Rosie, who is about seven now, was very inquisitive, but Olive was really shy."
“She would ball herself up a lot, and huffle, where they puff their spikes up, which is a sign that they think they're in danger and so get defensive."
“It took a good four weeks for her to get used to everyone. There were times when I thought, 'Have I done the wrong thing?' But I persevered."

Now, while Rosie is still spooked when Olive rolls up into a ball, they are best friends – cuddling up and enjoying naps together and even sharing food.

Victoria laughed:

“Olive is the fussiest eater. She doesn't eat any live food like mealworms or bugs, which are the mainstay of most hedgehogs' diets."
“Instead she likes dried mealworms and cat biscuits – which Rosie is always pinching."

Olive and Rosie cuddling (PA Real Life/@olive_the_hedgehog_)

While she is perfectly happy to play and snuggle up with Rosie, Olive also has a space of her own – a little hedgehog house, handmade from upcycled wood by a family member.

Kitted out with its own security camera, which records the hog's activities, Victoria delights in rewinding and watching what Olive has been up to at night.

She explained:

“Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so while we're sleeping, she's playing away. She loves running through her tunnel or on her exercise wheel, and foraging for food too."

Olive (PA Real Life/@olive_the_hedgehog_)

One of the most important aspects of Olive's care, according to Victoria, is making sure she is kept warm, as she would be in her native land.

A self-taught seamstress, she has made several special little pouches – perfect for burrowing into – and also uses heat pads to keep her hog's temperature up.

By sewing handles into them, she can carry the pouches on the move, meaning Olive, who is small enough to fit in Victoria's hand, accompanies her virtually everywhere she goes.

Victoria and Olive (PA Real Life/Collect)

Touchingly, this has helped hugely with Victoria's anxiety, which she has battled for years.

She explained:

“I take Olive everywhere I go. I stay over with family quite a lot, and she'll come for a little sleepover."
“I either carry her in one of her special pouches, or she can sit on a heatpad in my bag."

Olive (PA Real Life/@olive_the_hedgehog_)

“Having her has helped me so much. I struggled for years with anxiety, to the point where I was afraid to even go out by myself."
“Last year, I finally accepted I needed help, and have had medication and talking therapy – but nothing has helped quite like Olive."
“She's like a therapy pet. And Rosie, too – she is great at picking up when I'm feeling down. She's so gentle and always comes over for cuddles."

Ignorant strangers have criticised Victoria for keeping a hedgehog, saying Olive is “disgusting" and “full of disease," but she insists that her beloved hog makes the perfect animal companion – both for her, and for Rosie.

Now, she has even set up an Instagram, where she delights her thousands of followers with enchanting snaps and videos of Rosie and Olive – who are never left alone unsupervised together – in action.

She concluded:

“I never expected people to like the pictures as much as they do. I've met some really lovely people through the Instagram, though, and Olive and Rosie are good as gold having their pictures taken."

Olive (PA Real Life/@olive_the_hedgehog_)

“They have very similar temperaments really. They're both gentle, chilled and happy to be handled and cuddled."

She added:

“They are unlikely friends, but they love each other to bits."

Follow Victoria's Instagram @olive_the_hedgehog_

More from News

Jesse Watters
Fox News

Jesse Watters Dragged After Adding Another Mind-Boggling Rule For 'Real Men'

Fox News host Jesse Watters, who is apparently an authority of what it means to be a manly man, gave jazz hands to make a point about how "real men" should or shouldn't wave.

The target of his ridicule was Tim Walz, the enthusiastic Democratic Minnesota governor and vice presidential candidate who often greets the public by raising both hands in the air to wave.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of crowd at town hall and Rep. Mike Flood
@MorePerfectUS/X; KETV NewsWatch 7

GOP Rep. Goes Viral For His Response To Crowd Chanting 'Tax The Rich' At Town Hall

Nebraska Republican Representative Mike Flood was criticized following his incredulous response to a crowd that chanted "Tax the rich!" during a town hall meeting.

The Columbus High School auditorium hosted the town hall on Tuesday evening, drawing "nearly 380" attendees, according to local network KETV Omaha. The event was lively, with Flood facing both sharp criticism over Trump administration policies and some appreciation for showing up in person.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Awkward Typo In Elon Musk's Bizarre 'Education Department' Trump Meme Is A Total Self-Own

Billionaire Elon Musk was widely mocked after he celebrated President Donald Trump's executive order to begin to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE) by posting a meme of Trump at the department's grave, only for an awkward misspelling to get all the attention.

Polling indicates that eliminating the Education Department is largely unpopular, with 60% of registered voters opposing the move, according to a Quinnipiac University survey conducted March 6-10. Support stands at 33%, with opposition particularly strong among Democrats—98% oppose it, while just 1% support it.

Keep ReadingShow less
JB Pritzker; Donald Trump
Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Dem Governor Reveals Trump's Bonkers Demand In Exchange For Equipment During COVID

Illinois Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker revealed during a speech this week that he clashed with President Donald Trump during the first Trump administration after Trump promised necessary medical equipment during the COVID pandemic on the condition that Pritzker praise him publicly.

Five years ago, the United States was grappling with the initial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country had entered shutdowns that had severe economic consequences, leaving businesses and industries on the brink of collapse.

Keep ReadingShow less
Scrabble tiles spelling the word scam
Scam spelled with scrabbles on a wooden table

People Break Down How They Realized An Entire Industry Was A Total Scam

We unfortunately live in a world where scams are on the rise.

Thankfully, some of them are pretty easy to detect, such as an automated call from the IRS telling you a warrant is out for your arrest, or an email claiming to be from Amazon or the USPS asking for your credit card information, only to look closer and see the email address is a yahoo account.

Keep ReadingShow less