Hang on, since when are dogs a zoo exhibit? Apparently, at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, dogs share the gorillas’ habitat. No, not really – a stray dog somehow entered the gorillas’ enclosure, leading to a rescue operation having to be conducted.
Read to the end to watch the video!
An Unusual Day at the Zoo
Zoo officials reported that the stray dog, nicknamed Mighty Joe Young by the San Diego County Humane Society, jumped into the enclosure to sniff around, which lead to a nail-biting moment captured on video.
Dog and Gorilla Face-to-Face
The video showed the gorilla and the dog eying each other carefully, with onlookers trying to help the dog.
The dog eventually dashed across the habitat, evading the gorilla, who may have thought it wasn’t worth it to pursue – perhaps he saw the dog’s teeth. Zoo staff then safely escorted the gorilla away, allowing Humane Society officers to rescue the dog.
Humane Society Steps In
The zoo mentioned that using recall training to handle such incidents is a standard safety measure. The Humane Society took Mighty Joe Young to its Escondido Campus to care for him while they looked for his owner.
Identifying the Stray
Without a microchip, the male shepherd was checked by veterinarians who treated him for ticks, vaccinated him, and ensured he was neutered. Despite his adventure and a visit to the vet, Mighty Joe Young appeared to be in good spirits.
Meatball Finds His Way Home
The story took a happy turn when Meatball, Mighty Joe Young’s real name given to him by his hoomans, was reunited with his family a few days later…