In an unexpected friendship, a 500-pound disabled lion named Bonedigger has formed a special bond with Milo, a small eight-year-old Dachshund.
The two have been inseparable since Bonedigger was a cub, growing up at the G.W. Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
Despite the lion’s enormous size, he and Milo share a close connection. The pair and a few other dogs spend their days playing, cuddling, and feasting on raw meat on the park’s grounds. Their unusual friendship has captivated visitors and even zoo staff.
John Reinke, the zookeeper who raised Bonedigger, witnessed the bond form between the lion and the tiny dog.
He explained, “It’s the only friendship like this in the world—a small wiener dog and a massive lion getting along like family.”
Milo even mimics Bonedigger’s behavior, puffing and making sounds as the lion communicates with other animals at the park.
Reinke, who lost both of his legs in a bungee jumping accident, hand-raised Bonedigger along with a tiger named Tony.
The lion and tiger lived with him in his home, where he fed them formula bottles and raw meat until they grew too large.
“Bonedigger’s like a dog,” Reinke said. “Whenever I’ve been away, he gets excited and runs to greet me.” Although Tony is healthy and playful, Bonedigger becomes protective when play gets out of hand, often stepping in to stop it with a snarl.
Now that the big cats have their enclosure, Reinke has continued raising other animals, including two more tiger cubs, Tippy and Orlando.
He shared, “Tippy loves playing tug-of-war with my prosthetic legs, which is a relief—it would hurt otherwise!”
Reinke’s journey to becoming an animal caretaker started after his 1994 bungee jumping accident. He fell through a faulty trap door from a height of 55 feet, severely injuring both legs and puncturing his side with a metal stake.
The accident left him in a coma for eight days, and doctors initially told him he would never walk again.
Though Reinke eventually regained the use of his legs after five years of rehabilitation, persistent infections led to both being amputated.
Despite this, he didn’t lose hope. His bond with Bonedigger and Tony played a crucial role in his recovery, providing him with purpose and a renewed sense of independence.
“Raising Bonedigger helped me heal,” Reinke reflected, emphasizing his special relationship with the lion.
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