Animal photographer captures precious friendship between two extraordinary best friends

An animal photographer was able to capture the beauty of friendship between an unlikely pair – a tiny owl and a dog.

We often refer to dogs as man’s best friend, but as it turns out, a dog can also be an owl’s best friend. A witness to this extraordinary relationship is professional animal photographer and artist Tanja Brandt, who was able to take gorgeous snapshots of Ingo the Belgian Shepherd and Poldi the owlet.

Ingo is a large breed of dog, so it is quite unexpected to see him get along so well with an undomesticated animal that isn’t nearly half his size.

The animal photographer from Germany took dozens of incredible pictures of Ingo and Poldi’s unusual yet sweet companionship. The owl is only a year old, and Tanja describes their relationship as “protector-protected”.

She can tell by Ingo’s behavior – he always wants to keep Poldi close by his side.

According to Tanja, Poldi “doesn’t know how to live free”. The owl is a bit more fragile than his brothers and sisters because he hatched two days later than them. Also, it is quite obvious that he is tinier compared to his siblings.

This vulnerability is in complete contrast with Ingo’s past, as the dog has had experience protecting others. He comes from a family of police dogs and has faced difficult moments in his life.

“They respect each other and they can read each other,” Tanja wrote on her website.

While Ingo might be the more protective one of the pair, the photographs show that Poldi also “protects” his friend in his own special way. In the images, you would see that the owl always snuggles up to his bigger pal and likes to keep him close.

Tanja has a really good eye and perfect timing, for she was able to capture some of the most playful and heartwarming moments that the duo spent together.

Although Ingo and Poldi lead separate lives, the best friends regularly spend time with each other and Tanja is always there to capture their precious moments on camera. This pair’s friendship is truly a sweet sight to behold!

Check out the gallery below to see more of Ingo and Poldi’s heartwarming photos.

Tanja Brandt, the animal photographer, regularly posts updates about Poldi, Ingo, and their respective families on her website and Instagram.