Meet Fred, the resident 10-year-old Labrador at Mountfitchet Castle in Essex and his nine babies…who just happen to be ducklings!

Nine lucky ducklings at a tourist attraction in Essex have found themselves a new dad… a ten year old labrador.

Fred, Mountfitchet Castle’s resident dog, has been babysitting them since last Thursday after their mum disappeared. #HeartNews pic.twitter.com/9gnv984Lf0

— Essex News (@HeartEssexNews) May 22, 2018

Staff at the castle aren’t sure where these little ducklings came from and their mom was no where to be found but Fred stepped in became their surrogate dad!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-44195490 Read all about the orphaned ducklings adopted by Fred the resident castle dog #rescuedanimals #dogs #ducklings #orphanedanimals #castle #daysoutwithkids #essex #bbc #familydayout

A post shared by @ mountfitchetcastle on May 21, 2018 at 12:16pm PDT

In a statement, the castle staff said: “The ducklings absolutely adore him and he has now resigned himself to being a stay-at-home dad looking after the nine baby ducklings. They are getting very mischievous, even hitching a ride on his back and following him into the water for a swim in the castle moat.”

a very very good boy pic.twitter.com/GgwpdvsPtM

— Alan White (@aljwhite) May 22, 2018

Can you heart even handle this cuteness???

This is the most adorable thing you’ll see all day!

A dog in #Essex has ‘adopted’ nine little ducklings after their mother disappeared: ?? @Mountfitchet pic.twitter.com/yPEpkJ235G

— ITV News Anglia (@itvanglia) May 22, 2018