BOSTON, Jan. 15 (UPI) — A New England sea turtle owes its life to a local dog after the observant animal spotted the stranded turtle on a nearby beach.
Officials from New England Aquarium said a storm washed seaweed and other debris onto Ellisville Beach, leaving the loggerhead turtle stranded until the 2-year-old dog, named Veda, spotted it while walking with her owners.
The Newfoundland, a breed of dog known for rescuing fishermean, spotted the trapped turtle and alerted her owners, Leah and Brad Bares, to the turtle’s presence by lying down near the water.
The couple reached out to Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay volunteer William Gray, who helped them carry the 40- pound turtle to the New England Aquarium sea turtle hospital.
Officials said the turtle would likely not have survived further exposure to the sub 20-degree temperatures experienced at the beach on Monday morning.
The turtle’s temperature steadily increased over four days at the sea turtle hospital and it is expected to make a full recovery.
Aquarium staff named the turtle “Newfie” after the breed of its canine hero.
