In Minnesota, a three-legged dog facing illness rushed to the aid of a newborn otter by diving into a river to save it.
According to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota’s Facebook page, Gus the Goldendoodle leapt into the St. Croix River to save the juvenile river otter.
Gus has been battling cancer, according to Fox News affiliate KMSP. His owner never imagined he’d be able to swim again after his back right leg was removed owing to malignancies discovered last February.
But that didn’t stop him from rescuing a newborn otter on April 17, according to CBS News affiliate WCCO.
According to KMSP, Gus’ owner Cleo Young and her two grandkids watched as the dog swam out approximately 50 feet into the lake before returning to land and dropping the young otter at their feet.
Young bathed the sand-covered otter and hurried it to the animal rehabilitation center, according to WCCO.
“The otter is far too young to be in the water; it should be in the den with its mother,” the organisation stated. “Because no one knows where the otter’s den is or how far the little man has traveled, the otter has been hospitalized for rehabilitation.”
The first 36 hours were particularly troubling, according to wildlife experts, because he was cool to the touch and they were unclear if he was suffering from pneumonia.
The otter, though, is doing well, according to the organization.
According to WCCO, he was transported to another rehabilitation clinic for additional care.
“Kudos to Gus and his great owners, Cleo and John, for saving the life of this little otter,” the conservation organization said.