June is National Zoo and Aquarium Month
When we think about cheetahs, the idea of these wild cats forming friendships with dogs seems extremely unlikely. But cheetahs can become anxious, particularly when interacting with humans in a zoo environment. The San Diego Zoo solved this problem by introducing one of their cheetah cubs, Arusha, to a Golden Retriever named Anna, and the animals became best friends. Arusha and Anna became animal ambassadors, meeting thousands of visitors at the San Diego Zoo, and other cheetah/dog friendships soon followed.
Here are some great books about cheetahs, dogs, and other unusual animal friendships:
Group Hug by Jean Reidy
Bear Came Along by Richard T Morris
Sheepish: Wolf Under Cover by Helen Yoon
Lucky by Christy Mandin
The Big Storm (Beak & Ally #3) by Norm Feuti
Case File: Pangolin Pop Star (Animal Rescue Agency #2) by Eliot Schrefer
Charlotte's Web by E B White
Frog Meets Dog (A Frog and Dog Book #1) by Janee Trasler
Can We Be Friends?: Unexpected Animal Friendships from Around the World by Erica Sirotich
Bug on the Rug by Sophia Gholz
Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends by Carol Buckley
Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Craig Hatkoff
The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson
Mel Fell by Corey R Tabor