We already know that dogs have an astounding ability to love unconditionally. Some of us are the lucky recipients of such loyalty and devotions, and we experience this every day when our pups greet us or make it clear that they’d rather be by our sides than anywhere else in the world. But dogs don’t limit their incredible bonds to just people. Many of man’s best friends have also become best friends with the most unlikely of characters. Check out these three dogs and their unlikely friendships:
Alexa the Anatolian Shepard and Sahara the Cheetah: This pair was raised together in the Cincinnati Zoo. They’re both part of the Cat Ambassador Program, which works closely with the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
Alexa and Sahara help show that these big cats can have respect for equally big dogs – an important fact for farmers in Africa to understand. Many farmers, in an effort to protect their livestock, will shoot and poach cheetahs. With these fast cats on the endangered list, their protection is crucial, and advocacy groups use Alexa and Sahara to demonstrate how farmers can use guard dogs to keep their herds safe without harming the cheetahs that may wander nearby.

Torque the Greyhound and Shrek the Owl: At an animal center in New Hampshire, a six-month-old Greyhound puppy named Torque decided to befriend an owlet named Shrek, after the baby owl had to be taken from her mother for its own protection.
Because Shrek was hand-raised, her handlers knew that she would never be reintroduced to the wild. She would stay at the animal center and help run educational programs. Shrek was introduced to Torque in an effort to familiarize both animals with something new.
Before long, the dog and owl started playing together and even cuddling and napping side by side. 
Bella the Black Lab and Bubbles the Elephant: If a pup and an owlet weren’t enough of a size difference for you, you need to meet Bella and Bubbles. Bubbles is a 9 foot tall, 9,000 pound elephant, and Bella is one average-sized black lab – and yet, the two are best buddies.
Bubbles came to an animal sanctuary in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina back in 1983. Fast-forward to 2007, when a contractor hired to build Bubbles a swimming hole abandoned a black lab puppy at the sanctuary, and a very unlikely friendship was born.
The dog and elephant formed a close bond, and both water-loving animals love to swim together.

Have you ever owned a dog that formed a bond with an animal to form an unlikely friendship?