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How a rescued crow stole a bull terrier's heart

Laura Foster,in Chelmsfordand
Alice Cunningham,Essex
News imageContributed A black crow sits on top of a hutch with an insect in its beak. A brown and white bull terrier dog stands below looking at the crow.Contributed
Cuthbert the crow has found his way into Mildred the bull terrier's heart

A crow has formed an unlikely friendship with a bull terrier after being rescued and nursed back to health by the canine's owner.

Cuthbert the crow was saved by 57-year-old Vanessa when she found him barely alive near a pond in Chelmsford's Highlands Park in Essex.

In May, after Cuthbert had recuperated, he flew away - as she expected - but he quickly returned and continues to do so daily, which she attributes to his relationship with her bull terrier Mildred.

She said the pair regularly played and relaxed with one another, adding: "They'll have a little hop around the garden together."

News imageDJ McLaren/BBC A black crow perched in a garden. It has some brown and white feathers. DJ McLaren/BBC
Cuthbert returns daily to Vanessa's home after being rescued

Vanessa said she had been walking her dogs in the park earlier this year when she saw the crow, who was a baby at the time, covered in dirt, looking "sad and desperate".

Knowing he needed help, she took him home and rang a wildlife rescue, but due to it being late at night, she cared for him herself with the intention to eventually release him.

"He was very at ease with the dogs immediately, and the dogs were at ease with him," she explained.

"Then one day he just flew and I thought he'd be gone.

"I said I wasn't upset, but I was really because over a period of weeks I nurtured him, fed him and looked after him.

"Then he disappeared and the next morning he came back for breakfast."

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News imageDJ McLaren/BBC A woman in a garden on a sunny day. She is smiling at the camera. She has blonde hair that has been tied back. She is wearing a denim top. The garden behind her has been blurred.DJ McLaren/BBC
Vanessa said she could not have left Cuthbert in the park to die

Cuthbert has been returning to Vanessa and Mildred daily since May.

She described the crow as "cheeky" and said he brought "immense joy".

"He loves the dogs, he's particularly fond of Mildred and they'll have a little hop around the garden together," she continued.

"He'll sit and sleep with Mildred... but it's always been important that he remains a wild bird, not a pet."

News imageDJ McLaren/BBC A brown and white terrier dog standing in a garden looking up toward the camera.DJ McLaren/BBC
Mildred the canine enjoys time in the garden with Cuthbert

Vanessa is now hoping to turn Cuthbert's story into a children's book to help animal charities.

"I think it's such an unusual situation that you don't all have to be the same to get on or to love one another," she said,

"In a world that can be very dark and depressing, he's brought a bit of life and joy."

News imageDJ McLaren/BBC A woman in a garden leans down to feed a black crow. There is a white terrier dog sniffing her hand as she feeds the bird.DJ McLaren/BBC
Cuthbert also enjoys spending time with Vanessa's other dog Beryl

Ben Garrod, a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of East Anglia, has also rescued birds in need, including a crow.

He said people should call a wildlife rescue centre where staff have expertise in the area if they come across an injured animal.

"We've grown up with films like Bambi and other Disney films where it's always wonderful to fall in love with wild animals and they're sweet and cute, and all the these things that they're probably not actually.

"In the wild, crows clearly don't go towards dogs so it's something that we shouldn't really be encouraging as sweet as it is," he said.

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