Kura Tumankako feeding her puppy, Honey Boy.
Photo: AFP

Humans have always had a close relationship with their pets, but in this case, a New Zealand woman's actions have caused even the most devoted of pet owners to wonder if she has taken her bond too far.

Kura Tumanako of Hawke's Bay began offering her staffordshire terrier puppy her own breast milk after weaning her baby daughter onto solid food. Her reason? According to Tumanako, she "didn't want it to go to waste" and believed it would help form a bond between her daughter and the dog as they grew up together.  

The dog, named Honey Boy, reportedly took to the milk instantly and began receiving multiple feedings each day. "It doesn't hurt," she reports, "but it's a bit ticklish." Ms. Tumanako did not care that her community looked down on her beliefs in this practice.

This type of behavior may not be quite as bizzare as it seems. Researchers have found that women in Papua New Guinea will sometimes breastfeed piglets if no suitable sow is found to feed them.

No cruelty charges can be brought against Ms. Tumanako, but critics are concerned about hygeine and possible behavior issues with the puppy as it grows older.