When Cooper, an 8-year-old Labrador, met his family’s new kitten last year, he was initially hesitant around the little guy. The kitten, named Winston, arrived with a rambunctious spirit — one that seemed at odds with Cooper’s calm personality. But when
it came to forging a relationship, Winston wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“Winston was obsessed with Coop, and eventually, they became good friends,” Chris Avery, Cooper and Winston’s human, told The Dodo.
Once he finally won Cooper over, Winston refused to leave the dog’s side. And the once-stoic Labrador soon bonded with the kitten in a way his parents never expected.
“Coop is a sensitive soul, and Winston is a feisty little rascal, so they are a bit of an unlikely pairing, but they seem to have found common ground in their love of napping in the sunshine and exploring the farm together,” Avery said. “We’ll often find them curled up together close to the fireplace in the winter or outside in the front yard in the summer.”
Cooper and Winston’s friendship seemed unbreakable. Until one night, Winston went missing — and poor Cooper couldn’t stop worrying about his best friend.
“We kept finding Coop sitting in the front yard (in the same spot they’d usually be snoozing in the sun together), looking out anxiously to the edges of the property,” Avery said. “You could see the sadness in his eyes. He was miserable.”
Every day after Winston’s disappearance, Cooper would sit in the same place for hours with his back to the house, scanning the property line. Despite his parents’ best efforts, the loyal boy refused to budge from his lookout spot.
“I even had to go out and bring him in for dinner (which has never really happened before),” Avery said. “Dinner is his favorite thing in the world.”
You can watch Cooper waiting for Winston here:
As much as Cooper enjoyed food, he loved Winston more than anything. So, he ate his dinner in the front yard while remaining vigilant, hoping to see his dear friend return.
Avery was heartbroken for Cooper and deeply worried about Winston, especially after the fourth night without him. Then one morning, the family awoke to an amazing surprise: Winston had returned home, and everyone — especially Cooper — was beside themselves.
You can watch Winston’s triumphant return here:
“Coop was very happy to have his buddy back, and it’s like a weight was lifted from his shoulders and that sadness in his eyes disappeared,” Avery said.
Cooper was elated to have his best friend back, and after so much time apart, the two grew closer than ever.
“I’ve noticed the two of them have been sticking together even more closely since Winston’s adventure,” Avery said.
It’s been a couple of weeks since Winston’s return, and his bond with Cooper has only grown stronger. The two still spend their days side by side, choosing to do just about everything together. And while they may have always been destined to be this close, Avery can’t help but think those few days apart reminded them just how much they mean to each other.
“Maybe Coop just feels like he needs to keep a close eye on him,” Avery said. “Maybe they just really missed each other.”
