WildCreatures

Four month old Liam captures hearts everywhere he goes. He's an adorable baby with a laugh that makes you stop, listen, and begin to laugh along with him. The magic of a baby's laughter is that it comes right from the belly so easily. The simplest of things amuse and delight an infant. You don't have to be a world renowned comedian to tickle a baby's funny bone and when you get one to really laugh, you can repeat things over and over again and get the same laughter for hours. Shona is a very enthusiastic grandma who has discovered that tapping her fingers on the window is all it takes to make Liam burst out in laughter. Shona laughs almost as hard as the two play their adorable game. Even Kolby, Liam's mother, laughs as she tries to hold the camera steady. A baby’s laughter is contagious like no other. Haven’t we all been in a room or a store and heard a baby’s laughter, only to realize that we, and everybody else had stopped to listen? Then one by one, we all end up laughing too. We would gladly tickle a baby or play peek-a-boo for hours, only to keep the laughter going. And the look of expectation on the baby’s face as he or she waits for us to make them laugh again is especially endearing. Laughter is definitely food for the soul and it creates bonds between family and strangers alike. We all deserve to hear the laughter of a bay every day!

Humpback whales are one of the most majestic and fascinating creatures on the planet. They possess an intelligence and level of understanding that is not far behind that of humans. In fact, as recently as 100,000 years ago, whales and dolphins were the most intelligent creatures alive, even surpassing our own ancestors. The humpbacks' communication is so sophisticated that we cannot decipher it ourselves. However, we do recognize that their extremely complex songs are loops of repeating sounds that may last as long as 20 minutes and can echo through the water for hundreds of miles. Scientists have included recordings of their songs on the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft that are currently traveling through space beyond our own solar system. The humpback whales are a mix of beauty and mystery like no other creatures. Whales are the biggest animals to inhabit our planet, ever. Even the long extinct dinosaurs were not as large as our whales. Their evolution into the most massive creatures to ever live defies much of what we know about science and bio mechanics. The more we learn about them, the more we realize how much we do not yet understand. And of all the whales, the humpbacks are the ones that we recognize most readily and the ones we identify with the most. Their wonderful, leaping breaches are a true spectacle, and their songs haunting and endearing songs captivate us completely. To have the privelege of swimming beside one and looking it in the eye is unforgettable. This humpback whale is a youngster, and at about 20 tons, it is far from its full size. It is still reliant on its mother for milk and she rests on the bottom of this bay, about 20m below. She will rise to the surface every 10-15 minutes for air. The baby, needing air more frequently will remain above and will play and frolic while she sleeps. A small group of whale enthusiasts has slipped into the water to observe the pair from a respectful distance but the curious baby decided to come closer for a look. To their extreme delight, she came within arm's length and stared straight at them with a lingering look as she slowly rolled on her side for a leisurly pass. The result was what seemed to be a request for a belly rub, much as you would expect from a large dog. As tempting as it might be to touch this whale, watchful guides are always present in the water to remind people that there are rules that must be respected. We are guests in their domain and physical contact must be avoided. For those who met this playful and curious whale, it was a moment that they will remember forever.

Most of us don't get the opportunity to do something as adventurous as these divers. Even if we did get the opportunity, a lot of us wouldn't be willing to swim in an open area with sharks. This takes a lot of guts. A groups of divers had an interesting sight at the end of their dive. Eight large reef sharks appeared and circled this group of divers. The sharks started getting curious and were slowly becoming aggressive. The sharks made several passes, inching closer and closer as time went on. Suddenly, one large shark came up from under the diver and bumped his snout into the diver's groin. That can be frightening, this shark is starting to get more comfortable with his surroundings. The diver had his camera recording the whole time, from watching this recording, we can see the shark fill the screen as the diver uses the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Electronics-Sports-Action-Video-Cameras/zgbs/electronics/7161074011?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=rumble07-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=a233a9c9785d705f01cb09e9ec8b4460&camp=1789&creative=9325">GoPro</a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=rumble07-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> to push the shark away. This shark is getting a little too close for comfort! This didn't phase the shark. It continued to try and make many more attempts toward the diver. The diver remained vertical, facing the shark, causing the shark to avoid making any more contact. This shark may only be bumping the diver because it is curious, but this is still frightening. This can also be a sign of a hungry shark, which is not safe to be around. Sharks are rarely dangerous to humans, but when a shark is able to come that close to you, it can be scary. Have you ever seen a shark close up like this before? Let us know in the comment section down below.

A diver is given a rare treat as he is allowed to swim with two massive spotted eagle rays. Eagle rays are beautiful and graceful swimmers. They reach a maximum wingspan of 10 feet. They can be as long as 16 feet and can weigh over 500 lbs. Their tails have 2-6 venomous spines for defense. These two rays glide gracefully through the water, seeming to be in complete sync. Although usually shy, they occasionally exhibit curiosity about people if approached cautiously. These two actually slowed right down as the diver caught up to them. Stingrays are known to be quite intelligent.

Lily is a 3-month-old Golden Retriever puppy who enjoys a challenge. His owners have found him a food bowl that comes in the form of a spiral maze. Food must be slid around until it reaches the opening. Lily catches on quickly when food is involved and she learns to walk in circles with her nose in the groove until she can get the kibble. She wags her tail happily as her owners laugh. At this rate, she'll be ready for a Rubik's cube in no time!

Syrian refugees have been facing the hardest time in their lives for the past years, and we're all aware of the hardships they have to endure on a daily basis. Those kind of circumstances can really bring down the human spirit, but this woman won't let it. A Syrian mother, who has recently arrived in Canada, teaches her new Canadian friends how to make saj, or Syrian bread, in the traditional method over an open fire. The women communicate with English, Arabic, gestures and giggles. When two cultures come together the results can be beautiful... And delicious!

A beautiful destination wedding in Mexico has a very unexpected guest. A huge male iguana is determined to get a clear view of the ceremony. He climbs the steps and watches intently as the vows are exchanged. His reason for attending becomes clear when rose petals are scattered for the bride to walk on. The iguana begins gobbling them up, much to the delight of the couple and their guests. The iguana poses for photographs and eats out of the bridesmaid's hand. This is obviously not the first wedding for this lizard!

This endearing little monkey can't hide his fascination for the GoPro camera. He licks and nibbles it as he snuggles with his mother and snacks on leaves. Even his mother is curious and looks right into the lens. The result is an extremely close look at the eyes and mouths of these adorable creatures.

When a cyclist comes across a young bull moose at the side of the road, he can't resist stopping to get some video. As it became obvious how relaxed the moose is, he approaches very slowly and gets quite close. The moose continues to eat and even looks at him with curiosity as he munches away. The most surprising part of this encounter is seeing close up how quickly this big fellow can make a maple sapling disappear!

Divers must complete a 3 minute safety stop after a dive, hanging suspended at 20 feet while they expel nitrogen that builds up while they are at depth. If they ascend too quickly they will be in serious danger. These divers were shocked to see a 9 foot shark suddenly appear and approach them from below. It was joined by six other large sharks. They moved in and around the divers, with one of them bumping its nose in the diver's groin. They made repeated passes and sudden approaches. In such close encounters, curiosity can quickly turn to feeding aggression. While shark attacks are extremely rare, these divers were relieved to reach the boat without injury.

Dave grew up hearing the same thing we all did about bulls reacting with severe anger when they see red. And like many of us, he always wondered if this could be true. But unlike most of us, Dave decided to actually try it out by visiting a bull up close and seeing for himself if there was any truth to this. Dave has become friendly with the farmers around the corner from his house in Millbrook, Ontario. They operate a beautiful farm where the animals roam free on a vast property. There are approximately 50 cows and a very large bull named Gus. Although bulls are known for being unpredictable and even grumpy, Gus has always been very agreeable. Over the past year, Dave has been visiting these cows and recording them and he often takes a bag of corn as a treat. The cows love corn! But Gus prefers bread and it's always a good idea to bring Gus an entire loaf when you wander into his meadow with his ladies. It didn't take Gus long to figure out that Dave had some food. Within a few seconds of stepping over the fence, Dave was surrounded by cows looking for a snack. Gus was among them and he walked over with all the confidence that you would expect from a massive bull. Dave was now desperately hoping that it was all a myth that red would make bulls angry. He was ready to throw the bread and hop the fence, if needed, but it turns out that Gus didn't care about Dave's wardrobe at all. Gus stood and sniffed the first bread slice and then his enormous tongue reached out like a hand, curling around the treat and pulling it into his cavernous mouth. He repeated this as fast as Dave could feed him until the entire loaf was gone. He also ate some pita bread, although he definitely found that more chewy than he liked. Gus even enjoyed a head scratch and face rub when the food was gone. Gus is a pretty relaxed bull who is living the good life on this ethical farm. He has hundreds of acres to graze, ponds full of fresh water to drink, and a large herd of cows to keep him occupied. It's a stress free life with very few things to worry about. The cows happily graze, chew their cud, and nurse their calves. Like a proud father, Gus watches them all protectively. Not surprisingly, many of the calves are black and look just like little versions of Gus. It's safe to say that Gus doesn't care what color your shirt is, as long as you have his favorite food.

This is Buddha's first time experiencing the deep snow. Buddha is a rescued beagle who barely survived his first few months. Due to severe illness and a brain injury, he needed round-the-clock care from this family. The children are extremely attached to the dog and their delight shows when they seem him frolicking in the snow with obvious joy. Every day, this lovable dog shows that he was worth every bit of the effort it took to save him.

Lily is an adorable puppy and welcome addition to the family, but at three months of age, she chewed the chair. Nicole came into the room to find the new chair had been gnawed and Lily was the only one who could have done it. Of course, Lily was only curious and trying to see what would happen if she sank her teeth into it. She was doing what puppies do. But Nicole needed to discuss the matter with her and that's when things got interesting. Lily has perfected the <a href="https://rumble.com/v4jl7g-guilty-puppys-apologetic-eyes-will-melt-your-heart.html" target="_blank">sad eyes</a> and wagging tail routine. She looks up at Nicole, pleading for forgiveness and love. She throws in a little head bob or two, looks to the side and back, and the tail wags slightly for the full effect. Lily sits and listens to the questions with the <a href="https://rumble.com/v48lnr-french-bulldog-walk-of-shame-round-2.html" target="_blank">guiltiest</a> of expressions and the most lovable face she can manage. Nicole is certainly trying to be stern enough in her reprimand, but it isn't very convincing to Lily or to us. It's very obvious that Lily knows how adorable she is and how she can get away with almost anything. Lily loves to go everywhere with Nicole. When she's not chewing furniture or sunglasses, Lily loves to walk in the back of the property where the creek runs through. She romps in the stream, trying to pay with salmon, but she gets scared if they swim at her quickly. Lily has a big heart but not a brave one. Lily also loves unusual foods and will steal bananas off the counter in the night. She is part golden retriever and part terrier. The combination makes Lily a very loyal and affectionate dog with a mischievous side and a will of her own. Like many dogs, she is too smart for her own good. Lily is popular on Instagram (@little.lily.doodle) and Nicole posts her adventures with Lily daily.

A small action camera stationed at a back yard bird feeder was intended to capture images of colourful birds and cute squirrels as they dined on their morning supply of peanuts in the shell, but instead, it captured surprising footage of a very interesting conversation between a polite crow and unfriendly red squirrel. The squirrel has been munching away on his breakfast and wasn't intending to share. He's been aggressive in his attempts to chase away all the crows and the blue jays, and even the black squirrels who would like a few nuts themselves. But a patient crow lands on the branch and makes several clear attempts at winning the squirrel over with a single word "hello", spoken with a voice that resembles a talking a parrot. In fact, he tries to say it 3 or 4 times. The squirrel does not seem impressed and he still refuses to share. But at one point he dashes off to hide a nut for later and the crow and his buddies take this as their opportunity to grab a little food and fly off with it. The crow is definitely trying to speak like a human and it's no accident that he says "hello", although his pronunciation is no longer quite as clear as it used to be. This story actually started about ten years ago when a nest of crows fell out of a tree in small town, Millbrook, in Ontario, Canada. The property owner tried putting the nest back up on the branch and he hoped that the parents would return to care for their babies. After a few hours, it was clear that they were abandoned and he called a veterinarian who lived up the street. They watched the nest until it was almost dark before deciding that the baby crows were orphans. They would not survive the night on their own. The veterinarian's family adopted the babies and raised them, feeding them meat, dog food, turkey mash, and they also taught them to find their own food. The crows quickly learned to fly and they began living in the trees, returning throughout the day for food. They grew and thrived, and the family inadvertently taught the crows to say hello. The crows even seemed to understand that this word was a greeting, as they would use it to announce their arrival. The crows became more wild over the late summer and they were accepted by the local crows. The orphans migrated south the first winter, but the family still sees crows that will allow them to get slightly closer than is usually possible, and at least two still say "hello" occasionally. As time has progressed, this family has maintained their love for the local crows and they feed them peanuts, but they also believed that the crows they raised would likely be passed on by now. Each winter that comes and goes makes this more likely. And yet, this crow that speaks to this squirrel shows that at least one of them is still alive and well. The squirrel may not understand how special this crow is, or how amazing it is that he is greeted in such a away, but the family was delighted beyond words to see this footage. It is truly heart warming to connect with a wild animal and to help it in a time of need. It is even more wonderful to see them still doing well more than a decade later.

Deer are shy and gentle animals that keep to themselves. They wander the forests and the meadows, throughout North America, as well as many other countries. We often see them from afar, or very briefly close up, but they are sure to run away at the sight of humans. Even seen from afar, we cannot help but be deeply affected by their gracefulness and their soulful eyes. But this man has discovered that with a little patience, the deer might just become curious enough to wander closer than usual. He sat on this log in a remote section of a protected Canadian forest and hoped to see the deer close up. The animals cannot be hunted here and they have learned that humans mean them no harm. It is common to see them grazing in the distance. They are usually not alarmed enough to flee. They may walk away or they may stare curiously. A human seated on a log, munching apples seems to arouse enough curiosity that the deer slowly wandered closer as they passed through this quiet section of the woods. When the man ignored them and made no move to go closer, they seemed to smell the apples. He tossed a few chunks in the grass and they actually came almost close enough to touch. The most surprising part of this encounter was that one of the does walked over the hill and then returned, bringing her fawns over the hill with her. This is a very unusual thing for a mother to do with her young. Although there is not much reaction from the man here, seeing the deer so close was a beautiful experience and seeing fawns right in front of him like this was unforgettable. The trust shown by these wonderful creatures was extremely touching.

Flo is a devoted mother who has had a few calves in her time. But on this occasion, she gave birth topo close to the fence that separated her pasture from the nearby highway. The slope of the ground and the small space under the wires combined to form a unique spot that allowed a slippery newborn calf to slide under the wires. The problem for Flo, and for her baby was that the fence was electrified, even though it was set quite low. This fence not only keeps the cows from wandering onto the road, but it also keeps out predators like coyotes that would love to come upon a calf that had just been born. Flo couldn't reach her calf and he had not gotten on his feet yet. Instinct seemed to tell him to lie silently in the grass, but Flo was distraught. A passing motorist happened along soon after the calf was born. Living nearby, he often watched these cows as he drove past, and he was particularly interested in the herd at this time because calves were being born. Dave had stopped at the fence in the days before this and he had used his GoPro to record a calf taking its first wobbly steps. He saw the cows in the pond and he stopped to get another close look and record the cows enjoying a bath in the sunshine. But Flo wasn't acting quite right. Dave put his camera on the fence and walked away to the right with his other camera. He knew very little about cows but he knew Flo was agitated. After a little while, Dave decided to go and look at what Flo was staring at. He found her new calf and decided it should be with the mother. The farmers' house is at the top of the hill across the meadow and the truck was gone. The cars on the road presented a danger if the calf wandered out into traffic. Dave decided to push the calf back under the fence the way it had come. Not knowing that some of the wires were live and some were not, he got himself a few shocks in the process. Flo tolerated the help, seeming to understand that the calf would soon be on her side of the fence. She encouraged Dave with a few "moos" as he worked away. The two walked up the hill and her baby had that important first milk that contains colostrum for a healthy immune system. As Dave was getting ready to drive away, the farmers returned and stopped to see if everything was OK. Dave helped tag the calf and give the umbilical cord a little iodine treatment. Because the calf had received a few shocks himself, he was known as "Sparky" from that day forward. As Dave kneeled down in the meadow to have a good look at Sparky, he and Flo wandered over for a sniff and a long look. It almost seemed like the two were curious about this stranger that had stopped to help them. For Dave, this was the day that he learned from the farmers, the importance of free range grazing and ethical treatment of cows, as well as the surprising capacity for emotion that these animals have. Supporting farmers like these seems very important for everyone's benefit, but especially for the wellbeing of the animals.

Warrior wasps, also referred to as marching wasps or soldier wasps have one of the world's most powerful stings, equal on the pain scale to bullet ants and tarantula hawk wasps. They are very unique insects that get their name from the way they defend their nest. The nest is built with chewed fiber and saliva that form a tough paper. There is often only one entrance to the nest and workers inside create combs and passages, as well as feed the larvae and the queen. The soldiers, or warriors guard the nest from the outside. They are especially sensitive to loud sounds and unusual vibrations. If the warriors perceive a threat, they begin to beat their wings in unison to produce a loud sound that warns the threat of impending attack. It is identical to the sound of hundreds of soldiers marching. They release pheromones that also signal the wasps inside the nest to come out and take part in the demonstration. Because they have barbed stingers, attacking and stinging means death for the wasp. It is in the best interests of all involved if the sound is sufficient deterrent. Ana, a skilled Naturalist Guide from Sacha Lodge, located just off the Napo River in the Amazon forest in Ecuador, led a tour down a small canal, stopping along the way to demonstrate how these wasps use their abilities to protect themselves. She provided an explanation and a warning that tour guests were to make one loud sound in unison and then remain quiet. When asked later if she had ever seen the wasps attack, she said with a serious look that nobody had ever dared to make further noise. Wisely, people are advised to not test the wasps. The pain of the stings has been described as feeling like you are chained in the lava flow of an active volcano. Scientists also commented that an individual will sound insane as they scream from the pain. As with many types of venom, researchers in Brazil have recently discovered that the compounds found in the sting may have a beneficial effect on people. It may be used to treat people suffering from anxiety. Warrior wasps can be found throughout the Amazon as well as Mexico, Central America and the northern areas of South America such as Brazil. These small but mighty creatures are a perfect example of the wonders of nature. Even a creature thousands of times their size would be no match for such well equipped warriors.

Common snapping turtles have a reputation for being vicious and dangerous animals. Rumors and myths tell us that they can snap a broomstick in half with their powerful jaws and many people claim to know somebody who has lost fingers, or even a hand, to these "monsters". But the truth is that they are gentle and curious when they are in the water, and defensive, not aggressive, on land. Most people only ever encounter these large turtles as they cross roads in search of a place to lay their eggs, or new feeding and breeding territory. Approaching one on dry land is likely to trigger a "strike" with their long neck and a "snap" as they clamp their jaws shut in the air. Unwary people can definitely experience a painful bite and they are capable of drawing blood. But this is only done when they feel threatened. They cannot fully retract their heads and the aggressive appearing display is a means of warding off predators. They cannot move quickly on land and they cannot actually eat on land, so they are never trying to capture food when they act in this manner. In the water, common snapping turtles are capable swimmers and they feel very little need to bite or snap, unless they are grabbed and handled. They will simply swim away. They are much more intelligent and inquisitive than people realize and they will occasionally approach swimmers for a close look. They might even swim up and sniff at a set of toes or fingers left hanging in the water, but they seldom bite people, and their has been no documented case of a finger or toe ever being bitten off by a common snapping turtle. Alligator snapping turtles are a much different species, being much larger, much more powerful and having very different behaviour. An alligator snapping turtle is very capable of inflicting serious injury and even amputation on human. This is a very large common snapping turtle who lives in a remote lake in Northern Ontario, Canada. It is unlikely that he has encountered many humans and even more unlikely that he has ever encountered a scuba diver. As these scuba divers were returning to their cottage from a deeper dive, they encountered this large male in the shallow water near their dock. They had seen this turtle a few times in years past, recognizing him from his missing front claw and extremely curious nature. He approached them eagerly as soon as he saw them swimming and he swam around them for several minutes. They saw that he had a large mass of leeches on his neck and they decided to try pulling them off. Ordinarily, snapping turtles would never allow a human to touch or pull on them, but this one seemed very content to allow the diver to tug on the leeches with his bare hands. The leeches held on tight and the diver had to pull hard to dislodge them. The turtle repeatedly turned and swam up to them, seemingly able to understand what they were doing. It is very possible that he was simply curious about them, but he let them pull on the leeches for more than 10 minutes before they ran low on air and had to surface. The divers were able to pluck at least twenty of the bloodsuckers off the turtle's neck and shell. Leeches are parasites that deprive animals of nutrients and can weaken them over time. A few of them would do no harm to a snapping turtle of this size, but a large number could have an adverse effect on the poor turtle. The divers have nicknamed this turtle "Todd (Terror of Da Deep) as a family joke since they do not share the common fear of these amazing animals. Common snapping turtles eat vegetation and dead and decaying animals and fish. They cannot catch a healthy fish. They are extremely important for keeping lakes and rivers clean and free of bacteria from rotting animals. A snapping turtle (or several) in your lake is a very good thing!

Coatimundi will appear out of the jungle in Mexico each morning to forage for food. A GoPro stationed at the edge of the jungle captures these adorable and mischievous creatures on camera. The coatimundi are very curious and inspect the GoPro closely. One of the little bandits looks both ways and then tries to carry it off into the trees. He even films his own feet as he tries to run with it! Coatimundi are part of the raccoon family and they are highly intelligent. They have very dexterous hands and are known for snatching anything that interests them.

Buddha is a rescued beagle who has a nose and stomach that are always working overtime. He can smell food at great distances and zero right in. But his nose doesn't just lead him to food that dogs are supposed to like. He will eat or drink almost anything. He discovered that the family van often has half finished coffee in the cup holder and he developed quite a taste for it. He's crafty enough to climb in and then carry the cup out, only spilling half of it on the front seat. Then he trots down the path to a quiet spot in the trees where he can gulp it down. Once he "escapes" into the forest away from any human, he then carefully rips through the carton cup and enjoys him self some delicious coffee. Although, the coffee by it self is not what triggers him but possibly the sugar within. We can never know, maybe he felt tired and thought he needed a boost. Ether way he did menage to steal and drink all that was left from his owners coffee. Buddha is no angel but he makes up for it by being so lovable and adorable!

These crows were orphaned and it was impossible to return them to their parents. The family that raised them gradually taught them to find food and they were introduced back into the wild, successfully reintegrating with their family. But while they were very young, they needed to be fed by hand 6-7 times per day. Their hunger was incredible and they screamed for food at each feeding like they were starving. These are the famous Freds, four rescued baby crows who learned to say hello. They migrate south each winter but return every spring.

A freak snow storm in April provided an opportunity to build a snow Easter bunny. When the bunny's carrot kept disappearing, it was time to put out a camera to catch the thief in action. Surprisingly, it was not a deer that was helping itself, but the family dog. Briva is a 10 year old Great Dane who likes her veggies. She is almost completely blind but she has a nose for treats and has caught on that this snow bunny is a source of snacks. Even a 130lb dog can be stealthy!

Humpback whales come to Tonga to breed and mate in the peaceful and safe waters. It is one of the few places in the world where orcas and sharks do not inhabit the waters and pose a threat to the calves or their mothers while they are vulnerable. Tonga is also one of the few places in the world that will still allow people to slip into the water and share moments like these with one of the earth's most majestic and beautiful creatures. This whale was resting on the bottom he came up for air at the surface to the delight of the nature lovers swimming nearby. He is a large bull and he has come to these waters to find females willing to breed. He will compete with dozens of other males for an opportunity to pass along his genes. As recently as 100,000 years ago, humpback whales were the most intelligent animals on earth. They were intellectually superior to the ancestors of humans at that time. We are only now beginning to understand the complexity and the magnificence of these incredible giants. Yet sadly, some countries are still hunting and killing these whales.

Hawksbills are the most beautiful of the sea turtles, and this video is proof! Check it out!

River is a beautiful dog with an incredible story. Due to medical complications, she needs custom made clothes for extra extra warmth so that she can enjoy what she loves most; a walk in the forest with her forever family. River is living a great life now, but she was literally seconds away from death when she captured the heart of Serena, a veterinary assistant who fell in love with her and rescued her from euthanasia. River has a condition that causes blood to flow between the chambers of her heart in reverse when her heart rate becomes elevated. Her first family loved her dearly and they tried their best to deal with River's medical trouble. She would become temporarily paralyzed due to lack of oxygen to her hind legs, caused by the improper blood flow. When River collapsed on Christmas eve and did not recover, they returned to the veterinarian for help. River was suffering from a few complications and her treatment was going to be complicated and extremely expensive. Even if they could afford the solution, managing River's medication and treatment simply wasn't a realistic possibility. River was one year old and she had been a wonderful family dog and companion for the children in the home. But River's people faced an impossible dilemma and they made the difficult decision to end her suffering. As River's IV line was placed and she was about to take her last breath, Serena came up with a plan. River had looked into Serena's eyes and connection formed in that moment. Serena and her mother, a veterinarian, could manage to keep River's heart issue under control with medication, a special diet, and carefully planned exercise. River is actually taking a liquid form of Viagra to regulate her heart and prevent long term damage. At 4 years of age, River has had an extra 3 years, with no sign of slowing down yet. Her life expectancy might not be as long as an ordinary dog, but River is enjoying a quality life for as long as she can. River dearly loves her daily walks in the nearby forest. At the right pace, an hour long hike daily helps River maintain her weight and fitness. But the cold temperatures in this Canadian winter decrease River's circulation. If River collapses and lies in the snow to recover, the cold will make things difficult. Ordinary dog coats don't provide the much needed insulation on River's legs and back end. Serena and her mother found a talented lady in Scotland who makes specially fitted dog pyjamas and coats. Her process involves a virtual fitting session with dozens of precise measurements being taken for each dog. The result is a fitted outfit that gives River the maximum warmth with complete comfort. It is even designed to allow River to complete her bathroom duties without a problem. River wasn't so sure about the new outfit at first, but she has learned to associate her winter coats with going to this beautiful forest. It wasn't difficult to get her to try this one on and she seemed to catch on quickly that she was now warmer than she had been. River's owners can't help but chuckle at how cute River looks in her outfit. It almost looks like she is wearing pants and a sweater. River has found a second family who love her dearly and they will spoil her and give her the best of everything for as long as she is able to take it.