The story of Idgie and Ruth: Dachshund protects his friend, a paralyzed cat

Idgie the dachshund, 2, doesn't like being separated from Ruth, a 7-month-old paralyzed cat.

The duo, named by their new owner after the main characters in Fried Green Tomatoes, were found together at the end of a gated driveway in Osteen, Florida, in October.

The animals were taken to Seminole County Animal Services, where therapies and shots couldn't help Ruth use her back legs.

"We actually don't know what's wrong with her," Diane Gagliano, program coordinator for Seminole County Animal Services, told the Orlando Sentinel. "We think it may have been something she was born with. It was really a strange situation — both of them were found in fairly good shape, not filthy or malnourished, so it seems as though they probably had a home at some point. But on the flip side, no one came and claimed them, and how could the cat get very far without the owner knowing?"

Gagliano set up a special pen where both animals could stay, breaking the dog-cat segregation rules.

"It was like she was constantly looking for her," Gagliano said of Idgie's obvious discomfort when the cat was out of sight.

Idgie and Ruth have since been adopted by Jacqueline Borum of Hollywood Houndz Boutique & Spa in Lake Mary, Florida. They're still inseparable.

"When Idgie gets a new toy, she always takes it over to the cat, Ruth," Borum said. "They pretty much share everything."

"I mean, we've seen friendships between dogs and cats before, but never anything like this. Idgie would take a bullet for that cat."

Follow Idgie and Ruth's story on Project Paws' Facebook page.

(Photo from Project Paws' Facebook page)