Tiger pups

Nasira, Anjika and Sidani -- three white Bengal tiger cubs whose mother stopped nursing them only 15 hours after their birth -- were taken home by zookeepers Tom and Allie Harvey.

The Harvey's golden retriever, Isabella, adopted the tiger cubs and nursed them as her own.

At seven weeks old, the tiger pups were about the size of small dogs and were actively exploring the world around them.

There was no cat-and-dog battle here. The pups, born at Safari Zoological Park in Caney, Kan., had no problem treating Isabella like Mom.

When the tiger pups grew big enough to drink from bottles, Allie and Tom fed them.

The tiger pups needed to be fed every two hours, so taking care of three of them was a full-time job.

The cubs enjoyed indoor games and loved to pounce and wrestle with each other and with Isabella.

The Harveys encouraged the pups to play, saying that it made them strong and taught them how to be tigers.

The pups liked to chew on toys and bite -- but not hard enough to hurt.

Though the pups loved swimming, they hated bath time -- making high-pitched cries and trying to scratch when it was time to get clean.

Thanks to Isabella and the Harveys, the pups grew bigger and stronger. Even when they weren't nursing, Isabella would sniff and lick them like they were her own.

The pups loved to cuddle, and could fall asleep anywhere -- including on top of Isabella.

At 11 weeks old, the pups became too big to stay with the Harveys, so they were transported to a new outdoor home.

Photos and story from "Tiger Pups" by Tom and Allie Harvey. Copyright (c) 2009, reprinted with permission from HarperCollins.