WHEN Helen and Nick Rowells dog Sam died, it left their other dog pining.

Bruce, a German Shepherd, was obviously missing his best mate.

Now Bruces sad vigil is over as his owners have brought two unusual Kune Kune pigs home and they are his new best friends.

The couple had noticed whenever he walked up the lane at Wilberlee, Slaithwaite, Bruce would stop outside a neighbours house and sit and gaze for hours at the pigs which were kept there.

The pair of little porkers, named Bob and Dave after two of Nicks fire station colleagues, have quickly become Bruces pals.

He spends his days sitting and watching them and loves nothing more than going in the field to play with them.

Helen, a sales assistant, said: "He is fascinated with Bob and Dave and if you go into the field with him, he pulls you towards them.

"The pigs are also interested in Bruce. He lays down in the field and they sniff and climb all over him. I think they think he is another big pig or their mum."

Bob and Dave have already settled into their new Slaithwaite des res a purpose-built pig shelter with a panoramic view of the Colne Valley.

"We brought them back and they seemed at home right away," said Helen. "They ate their food with no problem and they seem to be doing really well."

Nick added: "The Kune Kunes are very friendly pigs as they have been bred to be brought up amongst people.

"They lived with the Maoris in their houses in New Zealand.

"The Kune Kunes are the only pigs which are grazers, not rooters, and they eat grass more like a sheep.

"Other pigs use their snouts to dig for food, but these do not churn up the land, which is why we picked them."