In 1785 there was living at the Red Lion inn, Hungerford, Wiltshire, a
raven, respecting which a correspondent communicated to “Mr. Urban” the
following anecdote:--
His name, I think, is “Rafe:” and you must know, that going into that
inn, my chaise ran over, or bruised, the leg of my Newfoundland dog.
While we were examining the injury done to the dog’s foot, Rafe was
evidently a concerned spectator; for, the minute the dog was tied up
under the manger with my horses, Rafe not only visited, but fetched him
bones, and attended upon him with particular and repeated marks of
kindness. The bird’s notice of the dog was so marked, that I observed it
to the hostler. John then told me, that the raven had been bred from his
pin-feather in intimacy with a dog; that the affection between them was
mutual; and that all the neighbourhood had often been witnesses of the
innumerable acts of kindness they had conferred upon each other. Rafe’s
poor dog, after a while, unfortunately broke his leg; and during the
long time he was confined, Rafe waited upon him constantly, carried him
his provisions daily, and never scarce left him alone. One night, by
accident, the hostler had shut the stable door, and Rafe was deprived of
the company of his friend the whole night; but the hostler found in the
morning the bottom of the door so pecked away, that, had it not been
opened, Rafe would, in another hour, have made his own entrance-port. I
then inquired of my landlady, (a sensible woman,) and heard what I have
related confirmed by her, with several other singular traits of the
kindnesses this bird showed to all dogs in general, but particularly to
maimed or wounded ones.
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