Three-legged dog rescues orphaned baby otter
Created: 04/28/2022, 10:30 am
By: Sandra Barbara Furtner
A small, orphaned baby otter fights for his life in the icy river.
In a daring move, a three-legged dog jumps into the water and saves it from drowning.
Minnesota – Two girls, Ella and Lucy Hammerstrand, are spending Easter weekend with the whole family on the banks of the St. Croix River in Minnesota.
At her side - the six-year-old Goldendoodle male Gus, who belongs to her grandparents.
Three-legged dog saves orphaned baby otter - and becomes a hero
Suddenly, without any warning, the male jumps into the freezing river and swims away.
Confused and worried at the same time, Ella and Lucy try to follow him from the shore.
They are very worried because Gus recently had an operation and only has three legs.
The four-legged friend swims about 15 meters and then emerges from the water again - but he does not come alone.
He's carrying something in his mouth.
A goldendoodle saved a baby otter from drowning in a river.
© Collage ingimage/Imago;
Instagram (wrcmn)
Three-legged dog saves orphaned baby otter – there is no trace of the mother
"First time he swims with three legs and he comes out of the water with a little baby otter in his mouth," Ella reveals to Fox 9. The two girls immediately call their parents for help, and the family sets out to find them the mother of the helpless baby animal - but there is no trace of her far and wide.
"I held the baby in my hands for a while while we were trying to find his mother, but we couldn't," says Lucy.
Three-legged dog saves orphaned baby otter - separated from its mother too soon
So they wrap the baby otter in a blanket and take it to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota in Roseville.
"He was so cute.
His eyes weren't even open yet.
You could only see his little fingernails and his little cock,” says Ella.
Three-legged dog saves orphaned baby otter - despite being ill himself
Once there, the little one is taken care of immediately.
The staff at the Wildlife Rehab Center of Minnesota estimate the cub is just a week old.
So far too young to swim alone and be separated from the mother.
As a rule, they spend the entire first year together.
But now he's being taken care of enough.
And the heroic Gus deserves an extra helping of treats and lots of pranks.
Because Gus is also struggling.
He was recently diagnosed with cancer.
This was also the reason why he had his leg amputated in February.
But he is also very good on three legs.
"He runs as fast as ever," reveals Gus' owner.
