Spot the difference!
A lamb born in South Australia’s Barossa Valley has been adopted… not by another sheep, but by the breeder’s pet Dalmatian named Zoe! At first glance, the lamb looks much like its “mother” as it sports a black and white coat. It takes most onlookers by surprise on second glance when they realise that the pup is a lamb!
Much to the amusement of breeders John and Julie Bolton, the pair are now inseparable after the spotty lamb was rejected by its mother. Fortunately for the little ewe, who got her markings from the mating of a pure-bred white Dorper ram
with a cross-bred Dorper-Van Rooy ewe, the Dalmatian was happy to adopt her.
It's difficult to tell which is the most confused but Zoe was quick to show the abandoned lamb love and affection; licking her adoptive son affectionately and generally taking care of him. The little lamb happily follows Zoe around the farm and even sleeps inside the dog kennel.
Mrs Bolton said the confused little lamb had even tried to suckle from Zoe, but had to make do with a bottle instead.
Mr Bolton believes the bond between the dog and the lamb was formed because the dog is in the midst of her birthing season, and is brimming with motherly love. He commented: "She was already feeling that mothering instinct when the lamb was there, so it seemed to be a natural thing for her."
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
