A man was taking a walk on the beach behind his house. He did this daily so he could enjoy the fresh air and the sound of the surf. But this particular day was unlike others.
He heard frantic cries coming from nearby. When he looked around, he didn’t see anything. Hmmm, it was peculiar for sure. So the man, being kind-hearted and concerned, decided to investigate.
He walked closer to the shore and saw a tiny creature that was so vulnerable that his heart broke. A baby otter, that should have been with her family, was sitting there all alone in tears.
She was crying out for her mother. The man, who thankfully works for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, knew he had to try to reunite the baby otter with her family.
Source: Monterey Bay Aquarium/YouTube
He also knew how to handle the baby otter so he carefully picked her up and walked with her, up and down the beach, hoping to find her mom. He was encouraged that the baby otter’s cries would lure her mother out.
But there was no other otter around. This was likely due to the large swells brought in by the weather. She was likely separated by her mom, for good. The man had no other choice but to bring the baby otter to the aquarium.
Source: Monterey Bay Aquarium/YouTube
The otter pup was only four weeks old and completely traumatized. They had to figure out the best placement for her so she could thrive and then be released back into the wild when she was ready.
The only issue was the Monterey Bay Aquarium had no female otters to place the baby with. They made some calls and luckily found her a home nearby at Shedd Aquarium.
Source: Monterey Bay Aquarium/YouTube
But first, before the baby otter was transferred to Shedd Aquarium, the kind folks at Monterey Bay needed to get her used to being around humans. Otters do just fine with some human interaction.
They still adjust very well once they are old enough to go back into the wild so long as they are not treated as pets. They need to be otters!
So, the pup’s new human friends introduced her to all sorts of otter things like solid food and diving underwater.
Source: Monterey Bay Aquarium/YouTube
The pup became more and more playful. She even put up with being brushed and towel dried. Before long, it was time for her to make her journey over to Shedd Aquarium.
She probably had no idea how much she would be missed. Some of her new human friends even cried as they said goodbye. It’s pretty hard not to get attached, just look at that face!
Source: Monterey Bay Aquarium/YouTube
The baby otter successfully made her journey to her new home and was welcomed with open arms. Just wait until you see what happens next when she meets her new caregivers.
Her new friends will prepare her for life in the wild where she will be released when she’s ready.
We are so grateful for all animal rescues, domestic and wild. Thank you to all the animal lovers out there who make it their mission to keep animals safe!
Source: Monterey Bay Aquarium/YouTube
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12 Things You’re Doing That Your Dog Hates:
For most people, dogs are not just our pets, they are our family members. When you bring a dog into your life, things just seem to get a lot more exciting.
There’s few things that are better than coming home after a long day of work and having your beloved furbaby happily greet you at the door.
While we love our pups and they love us back unconditionally, there are a few “annoying habits” that our dogs may not really like.
U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Isaiah J. Soliz
Here are 12 pet peeves that many dogs have, according to Bright Side:
Hugging- While it’s hard to resist giving our pups a big squeeze, many dogs feel restricted and consider it a controlling act.
Using words more than body language- Of course, dogs can understand a select few words, but we all know that they can’t comprehend every single thing we are saying. Because of this, dogs tend to watch our body language to understand what we are trying to tell them.
Patting their heads– Similar to the hugging, many dogs don’t like when their personal space is invaded. Most would prefer being pet on their back or even scratched behind their ears.
Keeping eye contact– Looking straight into a dog’s eyes without blinking, especially a dog you don’t know, may come across as an act of assertion or dominance. If you’re meeting a new dog for the first time, it’s important not to make strong eye contact right off the bat.
Lacking rules and structure- Since it’s not always easy for dogs and humans to communicate with each other with words, it’s important for them to have rules and structure so that they can feel more comfortable in a routine and have trust in you.
Keeping them on a tight leash- If you hold the leash too tightly, it can make the pup feel stressed or uneasy.
Not letting them explore and smell- The majority of dogs love to see the world around them instead of being cooped up inside all day. They enjoy sniffing around and visiting new places. Keeping them inside and not letting them explore could make them feel depressed or isolated.
Forcing them to interact with dogs/people they don’t like- Putting your dog in an uncomfortable position can end up badly for either them, or for the dog/person that they feel uncomfortable around. Even if your dog is not aggressive, they may act in a defensive manner if they’re forced to be near someone they don’t want to interact with.
Being tense- Pets are very good at sensing our moods and feelings, so if we are tense and stressed, our dogs may start to feel that way too.
Being boring- Dogs are energetic, playful animals and love to have some excitement in their lives. They can feel lonely easily if left home alone all day, so it’s important to show them attention and play with them whenever you get the chance.
Exposing them to strong smells- A dog’s smell is nearly 40 times greater than ours, so certain fragrances like air fresheners or cleaning sprays that may not affect us, could really bother them. Make sure to keep things like this a good distance from them.
Bathing them- While not all dogs dread bath time, many of them do. Using a slip-resistant mat at the bottom of the tub could help them feel more comfortable. The temperature of the water should be lukewarm, not too hot and not too cold.
U.S. Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III
Of course, our dogs will love us unconditionally no matter what, but paying attention to the things that bother them could help strengthen the relationship you share with them even more!
