Fred the Labrador has grown up surrounded by animals of all shapes and sizes. As the resident dog of Mountfitchet Castle in Stansted, Essex, a reconstructed Norman castle, Fred has been a gentle and loving presence to anyone who visits the tourist attraction.
Now at the ripe age of 10, Fred’s paternal instincts are finally being put to the test.
On Thursday, castle staff spotted nine little yellow ducklings aimlessly wandering the bustling grounds.
The ducklings’ mom was nowhere to be found, though it is believed she may have been snatched by a fox shortly after her chicks hatched. Without a parent to guide them, the chance was slim that the ducklings would survive the perilous journey to water.
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