EXCLUSIVE: **NO NEW YORK POST** Story from Jam Press (Dog And Chipmunk) // Pictured: Charlie the dog Kip the Chipmunk. // Dog leaves internet in tears as he tries to nurse DYING BABY CHIPMUNK back to health ??" and now finally has a new 'companion' to help him through the grief // Meet the sweet dog who fell madly in love with a dying baby chipmunk in a story that has left social media users in tears. Charlie, a one-year-old Newfoundland dog, was delighted when owner Kristin Donnelly, 50, rescued a tiny chipmunk after spotting it stumbling around on a hiking trail in the White Mountains near New Mexico. Unable to spot its mother, Kristin brought the defenceless critter home with her to nurse it back to health. But she also had a rather surprising helper ??" Charlie. At 115lbs, the gentle giant towered over his little friend but treated him with a tender touch and became ??sobsessed??? with the chipmunk, affectionately nicknamed Kip due to his lengthy naps. Kip was fed kitten formula from a bottle every few hours for the first two weeks before Kirstin introduced him to solid food, and Charlie kept a tight watch on him all the while. The sweet pup barely left his side while he recovered, and even carefully licked him clean as a show of affection. The feeling was mutual. Once Kip was able to open his eyes, he stuck close to his furry friend, nestling in his fur and getting comfort from his warm, gentle touch ??" almost like an adoptive mother. Unfortunately, however, tragedy would soon strike. ??sAt first, we were nervous he may accidentally hurt Kip being that Charlie is so large and was still a very young dog,??? Kristin from Arizona, US, told Jam Press. "But very quickly we could see that our dog just knew to be gentle. ??sHe calmly licked him and patiently sat near him all the time ??" Charlie was always where Kip was. ??sHe cuddled and licked him and sat next to him every second he could.??? The duo???s special bond only intensified the more time they spent together, with Charlie even sleeping under Kip???s cage. Sadly, Kristin began to notice Kip was moving at a slow pace and consulted with a veterinarian friend of hers, who explained he didn???t have a high chance of surviving past the first few weeks. Although the little chipmunk was looked after very carefully by his new family, his health started to deteriorate when he was two months old. Kristin said: ??sIn the second month after I found him, we noticed he was getting lethargic. ??sHe didn???t have an interest in eating and slept all the time. ??sWe consulted a vet and my friend drove to us to give him antibiotics and fluids. ??sSadly, he didn???t make it. We think he had something wrong from the beginning because he never matured in a normal chipmunk way. ??sHe was physically slow and never had the quick movements of a prey animal. ??sI believe that is why the mother kicked him out of the nest." Charlie was inconsolable after losing his best friend, spending his days looking for Kip and crying. Luckily, the quick-thinking dog owner had a plan to cheer her pooch up. She bought him a stuffed chipmunk toy that resembled little Kip and presented him with the sweet reminder of his lost friend. The gesture has helped Charlie move on from the loss and he now carries it everywhere and sleeps with it. She said: ??sHe slept under Kip???s cage and whined and cried, it was so very sad. "Charlie loves his stuffed chipmunk. He has a new companion that has really, really helped him to move on." The dog owner later shared a video of Charlie and Kip in happier days on social media, with the heart-melting footage having racked up 1.4 million views on social media so far, leaving viewers in tears. One person called the family ??sabsolutely beautiful people??? and applauded their efforts at giving Kip a happy life. They added: ??sEven though it was a short life, Kip knew love.??? ??sSo sweet and so sad,??? another person agreed. Others were overcome with emotion over the sweet story, as one person couldn???t believe how gentle Charlie had been with Kip. Someone else said: "That was beautiful and yes, so thankful Kip was found and lived a loving life." "Anyone else cutting onions?" another person joked. Oblivious to his new-found fame, sweet Charlie now spends his days snuggled up with his old pal, who will never be forgotten. Kristin added: ??sKip was a gift to our whole family and especially to Charlie. ??sI feel so lucky I found that little guy and our family got to have that amazing experience of bonding with and loving that adorable little creature. ??sAnd to see the friendship between Charlie and Kip was priceless.??? ENDS Pictured: GV,General View World Rights, No Australia Rights, No Russia Rights, No United Kingdom Rights