When elephants arrive at the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald , Tennessee, they usually look for a friend to hang out with, for the rest of their golden years.

Tarra, an 8,700 lbs pachyderm is no different - she too found a best friend. However, her choice for a pal was someone a little unusual. Instead of cozying up to another elephant, Tarra became best friends with Bella, a stray dog that has made herself a home at the sanctuary.

Bella is not the only stray dog who lives on the sanctuary , but the other dogs and elephants tend to steer clear of each other.

While Bella and Tarra have been friends for years, nobody realized how deep their bond was until recently, when Bella came down with a spinal cord injury.

While the poor dog lay in the clinic unable to move her legs or even wag her tail, her buddy Tarra kept vigil right outside her room. For a full three weeks she refused to budge from the area

When Bella felt a little better, the sanctuary staff carried her out so that she and Tarra could meet. Delighted to see each other, Bella wagged her tail for the first time.

After that they visited with each other every day, until Bella was strong enough to walk again.

Today the two remain even closer, and Bella even lets Tarra pet her with her tummy with her humongous foot.

Source: CBSnews.com