If cute dog videos are the pinnacle of adorable on the internet, what happens when you add a baby lion to the equation?

Viral infinity!

Back in 2014, a male lion cub was born at a zoo in Sri Lanka, but sadly, the cub’s mother rejected him. Zookeepers were concerned, of course. They wanted to ensure the baby lion grew strong and felt love while doing so, and since a dog’s love is, arguably, the best love, they decided to try and incorporate him into a newborn family of pups..

At first, his potential new mom was not interested, but, said the dog’s owner, Heshan Mendis, it only took a short time for her maternal instincts to warm her over.

“After five, six hours, the dog changed, and she treated the lion cub as her own pup,” he said. “She licked him and she loves the lion cub more than her pups.”

In the above video, shared by BBC News, Mendis’ sweet dog tenderly nurses the baby lion along with her own biological brood of pups. She did so for three weeks, and the cub was welcomed into the fold by the puppies, too. They all played together like a natural litter and the little lion was a welcome playmate.

Naturally, as the lion grew, he needed to find a more suitable home. He was first relocated to a zoo, and then a sanctuary and today is a beautiful, full grown lion, no longer the tiny furball that Mendis welcomed into his home for a time. The lion, however, never forgot him – and Mendis still visits, and enjoys petting his old friend.

Animal experts say that there are a multitude of reasons why a lioness might reject or abandon a cub. One could be that she doesn’t have enough milk or may favor a stronger cub over another. In rare instances, lions may reject a cub that has been overly handled by humans.

For this once-little lion’s sake, it’s good that a dog mom’s love is so vast, she can share it with other babies, too.

When this family adopted Kurbis, who literally “fell into their lap” at a senior dog adoption event, they could feel how much he wanted to be loved, but his past was a mystery. In the time since, he’s learned to be a dog and they say it even seems like he’s getting younger!

Why you should adopt a senior!

Senior dogs are often overlooked at shelters and rescues because of their age, passed over for cute, little puppies. Those puppies are undeniably cute, but not every household has the time or energy for a puppy. They can be challenging (which is why so many end up back at the shelter!). Senior dogs on the other hand, often come with life skills at the ready. Important ones like leash walking, not going in the house, even tricks! They most often know that toys and treats are for chewing, while shoes are not!

Seniors often love to sleep and or snuggle the day away, and while they need exercise like any other dog, it’s usually less.

The fit easily into a household and make wonderful companions (for instance, with human seniors, who not only appreciate their low maintenance, but their calm, age and wisdom!).

Senior dogs may not have as many years as a pup, but they often have many more than you’d think. Just think about Kurbis in the above video from The Dodo‘s Pittie Nation — he seemed to get younger once he was in a happy place with a family who loved and cared for him!

Oftentimes, people mistakenly think that older dogs in rescue or at a shelter were problematic, which is why they ended up homeless. Most of the time, this isn’t the case. There are many reasons people give up their older pets. Some arrive at the shelter because their owner had to move or even passed away. But more importantly, it’s not generally their “fault.”

These dogs need homes, just like the younger ones. Give a senior a chance. Most people find it to be an incredibly rewarding experience.

Prince, say volunteers and staffers at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society in New York say that Prince, who has been with them for 5 five months, is doing wonderful with his obedience training. But come night time, he has THEM trained!

You see, since he arrived at the upstate New York animal shelter, getting tucked in is an important source of comfort. Some people may find it surprising, but pit bulls are a very emotional and sensitive breed.

“Every night at closing, if someone gets into his kennel and gives him a toy, he climbs right into bed and waits to be tucked in with a blanket,” Mohawk Hudson Humane Society spokeswoman Marguerite Pearson said in a statement to InsideEdition.com.

She explained Prince can get nervous at the shelter, but tucking him in every night helps keep the animal calm and situates him to his environment.

“When he first arrived, Prince was terrified,” she explained. “He stayed curled up in a ball, shaking in the back of his kennel. Staff and volunteers started working with him, and slowly but surely, he came out of his shell.”

Prince came to the shelter back in April. His owner, unable to care for him, gave Prince to his girlfriend, but Prince slipped his collar, ran away and ended up in lock-up, attempts by the staff to reach her went unanswered.

“We followed up, expecting that she would come to redeem him, but she never did,” Pearson said.

Pearson said they’re now looking to find Prince a new home, and spent the last several months training him to sit and drop a toy on command.

“[Staff has] been taking him on outings and showering him with affection, which he loves. And he gives it right back,” she said. “He’s very smart and people-oriented.”

Pearson explained the 2-year-old pit bull would do best in a home where he’s the only animal, and when he gets to know you, “his loving personality shines and he becomes a real love bug.”

To find out more about Prince, visit the shelter’s website.

This lovely lady is Ms. Brynn, 7 years young. And the folks at the Little Shelter Animal Rescue in Huntington, NY (that’s on Long Island!) are sure you’re going to fall in love with her.

Thanks to a grant from The Grey Muzzle Organization, Little Shelter is able to help more senior dogs like Brynn.

A true Renaissance woman, Brynn is a worldly pit bull mix looking for someone who can appreciate all her fine qualities. She will gladly join you for a midday sun bathe or an evening stroll, made all the better if snacks are served…! Who doesn’t enjoy tasty hors d’oeuvres?

Her friendly, sweet and outgoing personality makes her the perfect pup to complete your family. Once she is by your side, you’ll wonder how you ever binge-watched a series on Netflix without her!

This lovely girl is ready to meet you. Don’t keep her waiting! For more information, check out the Little Shelter’s website.

More about Little Shelter Animal Rescue in their own words….

Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center is a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter nestled on six wooded acres in Huntington, Long Island. Little Shelter has been dedicated to saving abandoned dogs and cats and placing them into loving homes since 1927. Age, physical condition, and socialization issues are never criteria for rescuing a dog or cat whose life is in jeopardy. Through rescue from kill facilities, rehabilitation of sick and unsocialized pets, and a 100% spay/neuter program, Little Shelter hopes to end pet overpopulation and place all dogs and cats into loving homes. All Little Shelter animals receive the highest quality medical care and are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. Every potential adopter is interviewed and thoroughly screened to ensure the best quality homes. Included on the grounds is Sheltervale Pet Cemetery, which has been the final resting place for companion animals for more than 90 years. Little Shelter Animal Rescue has won Best of Long Island 9 straight years (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018) for Best Animal Shelter and Best Animal Rescue!

Christian Shenouda was going to buy a dog, but when someone told him he should visit a shelter to adopt instead, it seemed like a good idea. That’s where he met, and fell in mutual forever-love, with a pittie mix named Ray. Shenouda told The Dodo’s Pittie Nation that Ray’s winning smile won him over, and Shenouda found himself quickly becoming something of a pit bull ambassador. His relationship with Ray made him want to share his experience and show the world what wonderful companions this misunderstood dogs can be.

Like the rest of the world’s adoption proponents, Shenouda (sadly!) could nto adopt all the dogs, but as a photographer, he found he could donate some time to helping shelters — so often overwhelmed with the sheer numbers they have to move through their system — getting better photos of their residents, images that capture their winning pibble personalities far more accurately than the sad snapshots so often taken when they first come through the shelter doors.

Since then, Shenouda’s photos have helped countless dogs – pups just like his own beloved Ray – find their loving forever homes. He also does photo sessions for families, too, capturing pups and their people in beautiful moments they will cherish.

“Ever since I adopted my rescue pup Ray, it’s been puppy love ever since!” Shenouda writes on his website. “Dogs inspire us to live life to the fullest and there’s nothing I love more than to capture and share those moments!”

Check out Christian’s website here!

A note about dogs who smile….

Animal behaviorists have noted dog “smiles” to be a submissive gesture of appeasement, one that shows you and other people that he or she is non-agressive, not a threat. Submissive grins, in dog-speak, are a way to show deference to another individual. Generally, say experts, these grins are associated with increased movement and a body posture that is lower than the dog’s normal stance (remember when Ray was belly-crawling for his boiled chicken?).

Cuda’s family adopted her at five months, not knowing what was “wrong” with her. It turned out: nothing, really! Cuda was born with short spine syndrome, a condition caused by inbreeding. Aside from having a little difficulty scratching her butt, she’s just like any other dog! (Note to the concerned: her family makes sure she gets plenty of butt scratches!).

Owner Julie LeRoy, a former animal control officer, says that Cuda’s former owner bought her off Craigslist for $50.

She runs – fast! She plays. She loves her human and canine family members. She was even certified as a therapy dog, so she brings lots of love and sweetness to many people outside her own circle. Her mom thinks Cuda helps people become comfortable in their own skin — and she is so grateful that she gets to have a dog so special.

What is short spine syndrome?

Short spine syndrome is a defect dogs have from birth. The vertebrae are compressed, creating a severe shortening of the spinal column, and giving dogs a short, hunch back look.

Often the some of the vertebrae are even fused together, which means dogs born with this condition are often less flexible than other pups (resulting in circumstances like Cuda’s, wherein she has trouble scratching her rear end!). One of the signature features of dogs with short spine syndrome is a neck-less appearance. As the vertebrae is fused, they generally cannot turn their heads and instead must pivot around completely to see things that are behind them. These dogs have “normal-looking legs,” but short, barrel-shaped bodies. Many have fewer ribs than the average dog.

While rare, dogs with short spine syndrome have been getting greater visibility of late. Cuda is just one of the poster children for the condition. Others include Pig, the Unusual Dog…

…and Quasimodo!

The condition is so rare that only a handful of dogs in the world, numbering somewhere in the teens, are known to have the condition.

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Carlos was in bad shape when rescuers found him wandering the streets of Puerto Rico. And when the woman who would become his mom saw his photo, she knew he was meant to join the family. Since then, he’s become an incredible companion to her three small children and she is proud to be a pit bull mom and an advocate for this so-often-misunderstood breed.

Follow him on Instagram here!

Great story from the Dodo’s Pittie Nation!