Posted on Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 5:35 a.m.
Rio the dog romps in the yard with an unlikely friend
By Lorrie Shaw
It's been a rough few days for folks here in Washtenaw County, and there is nothing like seeing two furry pals playing enthusiastically to help bring a little brightness to one's day.
These two friends aren't just any ordinary playmates, and they're not just from different species — one is wild, while the other is domesticated.
This dog, Rio — a Beagle mix — and a river otter have become fast friends, as the dog's owner explains.
Every evening a river otter comes to play with our daughter's dog Rio. What was once an acquaintance on the other side of the fence has now become a friend who comes to play through the fence.It has been interesting to watch as their trust of each other has developed over the past several months.
Be warned: this video contains excessive amounts of cuteness! Does your pet have an unlikely buddy? Share your story below.
Lorrie Shaw leads the pets section for AnnArbor.com. Catch her daily dog walking and pet sitting adventures or email her directly and subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
julieswhimsies
Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 6:56 p.m.
Adorable! VERY unusual to see. I'm afraid that if the dog was my Bree, that otter would have been dinner.
RunsWithScissors
Wed, Mar 21, 2012 : 12:16 p.m.
@julieswhimsiies I think annarbor.com is still experiencing problems with the comments program. You can't see your post because it would appear that you violated the rules but everyone else can see it. I hope they get it fixed soon 'cuz it's very confusing.
julieswhimsies
Tue, Mar 20, 2012 : 10:43 p.m.
Wait wait wait. I got reported for abuse simply because all Alaskan Malamutes hunt small game? It's instinct. I certainly didn't train her to do that! A2.com...Why do you not overturn abuse reports when they are not warranted?
Elaine F. Owsley
Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 11:59 a.m.
Our old dog, Tigger, part chow, part shepherd, made friends with a young doe who wandered into the yard. He would chase her and she would chase him, back and forth between our yard and the next. This went on for several weeks. One evening I looked up and found her peeking in the porch door - "Can Tigger come out?" she seemed to say. He could and did. Another day she showed up with a couple of young doe friends as if she was going to introduce her new friend. When the "girls" saw Tigger, they took off running and "Bambi" finally followed them. She never came back. Peer pressure is such a strong thing among "teens".
Lorrie Shaw
Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 12:07 p.m.
Elaine: That is such a sweet story. It's amazing to see the connections that animals can make easily! Thanks for sharing your story! Such fond memories of Tigger!