Archer is a husky that Ben Murray, 30, bought as a puppy in 2012 after falling in love with a photo of him. ‘It was a really risky and impetuous decision,’ Ben added. I contacted the breeder right away without meeting him, and Archer was delivered a few weeks later.”
‘I can put my trust in him when he’s not on the lead’ (most of the time). He’s a devoted, obstinate, and affectionate boy.’ Ben had no idea Archer and Niqo would create such a close attachment when he adopted the cat.
The dog and cat were closest friends from the moment they met. Niqo enjoys cuddling with Archer and is now accompanying him on walks.
Ben has been photographing the pair’s unassisted walks and sharing them on Instagram so that anyone can join them on their daily escapades.
The best friends have previously visited their hometown of Bristol, as well as London and Taunton. ‘We had to take Archer to the vet, and Niqo came up to him and said hello,’ Ben recalled. ‘They’re both quite self-assured.
‘Niqo is extremely affectionate and enjoys cuddling. I’d always wanted a cat, and I figured they should spend their lives together. ‘After almost a year of walking, I wanted to learn how to use my camera so I could better capture their activities.’
‘At first, it was just a ruse to acquire pet food, but I became quite interested in photography.’ I prefer to photograph them in natural settings. It’s a great way for me to express myself creatively. ‘It was just a pastime.’ I’d like to publish a photo book and sell prints in the future.’