A Man’s Shocking Discovery: What He Thought Was a Beaver Turned Out to Be…

Nature is truly a philosopher, guardian, and guide of man. Humans can lead a healthy and contented life if they are in harmony with nature. If you also belong to the group that believes this, then you can surely appreciate Jim Passmore from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

On a crisp March morning, he decided to explore the surrounding area and see what nature offered. While he assumed this walk would be a stroll like every other walk he had taken, he had no idea he would take a route he had never explored before.

As a nature enthusiast, Jim Passmore adores his hometown. Broken Arrow has forests, woodlands, snaking creeks, and crystal-clear lakes that are perfect for picnics and family outings. It’s a place that nature lovers adore.

Like any other environment lover, Jim typically walks alone with his pets. He’s the proud owner of two adorable pooches who love exploring the natural world around them. The dogs, too, love the opportunity to be in an open space in nature’s lap.

This day changed Jim Passmore’s life forever. It’s one that he’ll never forget. That day began like any other. Taking his dog’s leads, Jim took them to the nearby creek to allow them to exercise and have a little splash in the water.

It was precisely what they expected until they reached the creek. Indeed, they weren’t expecting what they were about to witness soon.

The trio — Jim and his two dogs — had a routine they followed. As he looked beside the creek, Jim saw that something seemed amiss. The middle of the stream had some debris, something he had never seen before, so he walked over to see it.

He approached closer but couldn’t clearly see what they were looking at. From a distance, it looked like a log in the water. When he looked closer, he could see that there was hair on it.

At first, it looked like an animal had been trapped in the Mud, but Jim wasn’t sure. So he walked a little closer, and it was easy to see that it was something struggling. Jim saw the submerged object that appeared to be stuck between the two water levels.

It was hard to believe it was an animal, but Jim couldn’t deny what was in front of him. Why was it not eaten if it had been dragged into the creek by a predator? Why was it left there? Things certainly did not make sense.

The more Jim looked at the scene in front of him, the more things didn’t add up. He once again tried to get a closer look at the object in the water, and at this moment, he realized the animal was alive.

It was trying to free itself from the mud. Though the attempts were feeble, it was still trying to save its life. Jim usually walks around the creek for a half-hour a day, but he knew he would be there for a lot longer on this day.

Once Jim’s dogs realized what was happening in the water, they began barking and yelling. It was as if they sensed some danger and feared the creature beneath the water. Jim started to worry as he looked at his dogs, whose sounds of fear pierced through the air.

Nonetheless, the poor guy couldn’t tell what kind of animal it was, and he couldn’t see the entirety of its body. Was it a bear? Or was it something else?

He looked around for any signs of life, before coming across something peculiar. A short way from the creek was a small animal crate, like the carrier you would put your pet in when you take them on vacation.

He still couldn’t accept that the animal stuck in the mud in the creek used to be in the animal crate. Additionally, did it mean that the dangerous animal was someone’s pet? The thought unnerved Jim.

But to be sure, Jim approached the crate and took a closer look, noticing a blanket in the cage. It was a colorful fleece that would keep an animal warm, perplexing the Broken Arrow locals. Now, he had to resolve a particular issue.

First, what was stuck in the water? Secondly, how did it get there? Where was it from? When Jim racked his brains for an explanation, he came up empty-handed. He had no idea what to make of the weird situation, and he didn’t even think it would get stranger.

Things certainly didn’t add up, but Jim had to find the answers to his questions. The first thing that crossed Jim’s mind was that the animal might be a beaver. That makes sense.

But, the carrier undermined that assertion because the beaver may have been using it as a refuge, or maybe it was just a couple of groundhogs living in the abandoned case. All this was running through Jim’s head, but in reality, that wasn’t at all the case.

The more Jim studied the crate and the surrounding area, the more convinced he became that there was something very suspicious about the entire setup. The carrier was covered with animal droppings, and the whole thing was filthy.

Besides this, there was also a large hole in the side of the box that, from what he could tell, had been gnawed at by the animal trapped inside.

Though Jim couldn’t reach a conclusion about the animal that was restrained in the cage and the one stuck in the mud, he was sure that the entire setting was intentional. There was a purpose, and someone had tried to chain an animal in the wilderness intentionally.

Jim couldn’t believe that someone would cage an animal and abandon it in the wilderness, knowing it would be tough to survive. But the mysteries persisted. Which animal was in the cage? What was stuck in mud in the creek?

The cage was so gross that Jim couldn’t believe any animal could have lived in such an environment. Unable to face it any longer, he looked back at the creek, where he saw something that caught his eye.

Watching a lone beaver along the water’s edge, partially submerged, Jim wondered whether it was the same one he had seen before and whether it had managed to escape. The man, however, wasn’t convinced, so he held his dogs in check and walked back the way he had seen the animal had headed.

Jim realized that getting up close to the animal would not be possible after he returned to the area where he saw the animal submerged in mud and water. All the foliage in the area made it very difficult for Jim to get close to the edge of the creek.

Upon closer inspection, he tried to deduce what the animal was. He studied it more and became convinced that it was, in fact, a giant beaver.

Even though Jim was clueless about what kind of animal he was coming up on, he could tell it was stuck in the mud. Instantly, his reaction was that he wanted to do everything he could to help.

He desperately wanted to help the struggling animal break free from the thick mud and murky water, but he knew he needed to devise a solid plan first. Without a good plan, the entire effort could backfire, and Jim himself could be in trouble.

The ground softened as the woods and the leaves drenched with wetness. It wasn’t long before Jim discovered that the animal was bigger than a beaver. If it wasn’t a beaver, what could it be?

The giant creature seemed trapped in the mud, and Jim acted instinctually without a second thought. He had to help the poor creature, but one thought persisted — he still had no clue about which animal it was. Shouldn’t his safety be his prime concern?

He didn’t know what it was, but Jim was confident he would figure it out. He couldn’t stand the thought of abandoning an animal in need. H’s a kind-hearted man who wanted to rescue an animal in need.

Though he was unsure about the animal, he knew it could be aggressive, so he needed to watch out for those teeth in case they escaped and chomped him. Despite the uncertainties, Jim was clear that he wouldn’t abandon this animal who desperately needed help.

Upon getting closer to the animal, Jim realized how big it was. Feeling alone, he reached out to other passers-by and locals to help. They devised a plan to help the animal and quickly surrounded it.

Unfortunately, when the crowd began to cover the animal, it became increasingly panicked, even going so far as to bite an innocent bystander. The incident didn’t lower the spirits of the rescuers, who were now more committed to retrieving the animal from its muddy prison.

There was uncertainty about the type of animal, but Jim had another concern. He had no idea about the medical condition of the animal.

Jim knew, from first-hand experience, that stray and wild animals could have all sorts of illnesses that could prove fatal to humans. Jim wasn’t sure if the animal under the surface had anything contagious, so he trod carefully so as not to scare the animal and make it a stressful ordeal.

Since he didn’t know how long the animal had been in the creek, Jim realized he should cover its head. It was probably scared by the number of people trying to help it. The animal calmed down quickly after the jersey was placed over its head.

Generally, animals and humans would freak out if their vision was suddenly gone, especially in such a situation, but it had a calming influence on this animal. The rescuers heaved a sigh of relief as there was some progress.

The fabric over the animal’s head afforded the other rescuers a little more peace of mind regarding interacting with the creature. Although they could get close to the beast without getting bitten, they couldn’t lift it out of the mud despite their best efforts.

This meant that they couldn’t have the animal out of the mud. Its enormous size was also a deterrent to any effort to lift it.

Jim and the team thought of multiple plans to pull the animal out of the creek. One idea was to dig around it, but it proved to be next to impossible because the animal was half-submerged in mud.

Their only ray of hope was a pulley system or a crane that would help them rescue the animal. They had no choice but to use a pulley since a crane wouldn’t be available soon. The problem was making a pulley and keeping the animals relaxed for a long time.

The animal was wedged in, and it seemed to be refusing to get out. Did it have the intention of loosening up and getting free? So, they kept trying and eventually began to feel more relaxed as they were able to make it budge. This gave them a new determination and an ability to push harder.

After a few more tugs, the “beaver” was lifted to safety. Finally reaching solid ground, it collapsed on the edge of the water. Jim thought this would be the best time to discover the animal underneath the jersey. Can you imagine a beaver or a bear? Could it be something else entirely?

He reached down and took the jersey away from its head. At that moment, he realized it wasn’t a beaver at all. Instead, it was a sheepdog that looked scared, hungry, nervous, and completely harmless.

Jim was skeptical as the dog had been neglected and not treated well. Despite the animal’s very meek disposition, it appeared to be in a reasonably healthy condition. It didn’t seem like the dog was injured in any way, and he didn’t need immediate medical attention.

Even though Jim could see that the dog wasn’t in danger, he was still curious about where the dog came from and why it was stuck in the mud. So, he called the authorities and requested they investigate.

After all, he had braved an ordeal that not many would have undergone and deserved every bit of care and respect.

As they put a blanket on the dog and stroked it, the pup ceased shaking and engaged more with the people around it. As a result, Jim and the others named the loving pet Teddy. The dog seemed to like the name and responded to it.

Teddy started acclimatizing to his new and safe surroundings as the familiarity with his saviors increased. Teddy appeared to be a calm and quiet dog. Once he realized he had been rescued, he relaxed and sat patiently. Jim had indeed won Teddy’s trust.

Jim found it bizarre that a beaver he had just met had led him to the stranded dog. Can a beaver take care of this dog? A beaver can’t do much for a dog, but it’s cool to imagine that they were buddies.

Whatever the truth, the fact remains that on that fateful day, Jim was led to the dog by a beaver. Sidekick or not, it undoubtedly contributed to the rescue of Teddy.

As the rescuers spent more time around the dog, they realized that although he didn’t require immediate medical care, still his condition was terrible. He couldn’t be left unattended and was certainly not in the state to be adopted by anyone. Owing to his difficult ordeal, he needed time for rehabilitation.

He was given some food to eat and a blanket to keep him warm. As he ate a bit, he started showing signs of recovery. It was a promise that he would recover in days to come.

After Teddy had been given ample rest, the police attached a lead to the dog, intending to walk him to the car. At this point, they faced another problem. As Teddy tried to walk, they realized that he was struggling to do so.

The rescuers decided immediately that Teddy needed a complete medical examination. One of the rescuers found an ingenious way to move the poor dog and brought a wheelbarrow. Teddy was put in it and carted to the car.

Everyone was taken aback by Teddy’s inability to walk. They all expected him to walk gently toward the car. With his failure, they all were in a somber mood. They hoped it was only exhaustion.

After surviving a harrowing ordeal, no one wanted him to be hurt for his entire life. They all pictured a happy and energetic life for Teddy and hoped for his recovery.

The Oklahoma Alliance for Animals worked quickly to get Teddy in their care, but the team was warned they would have a lot of work on their hands. Teddy was still uncooperative with humans, and while the exact manner in which he ended up in the creek is unknown, there are several credible theories.

One theory is that he became injured, and his owner abandoned him. Whatever might have happened to him, the fact that Jim was present at the right place and time proves that good things can happen.

Another theory was that his owner might no longer have wanted him, so he confined him to a cage and abandoned him. Jim couldn’t stop thinking about the blanket and weight he found in the dog’s cage.

Teddy’s name was chosen because he appeared cuddly. They would have to work on Teddy’s trusting humans again to make him act cuddly, but that was a work in progress.

Upon Teddy’s arrival at the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals, the staff knew they had a decision to make. He could either be sent to an animal shelter, where he might be put down because of his injuries and temperament, or he could be rehabilitated and rehomed.

They decided to give the dog a chance because he didn’t deserve to be put down after surviving his ordeal. Teddy had been mentally and physically hurt by his past, and he wasn’t as cute as the bears he was named after. Still, they decided to hold on to him.

Teddy was examined and tested for diseases and infections at the vet. Teddy was tested because they wanted to be sure that the person he bit would be alright.

Amazingly, Teddy tested negative for anything dangerous, and the rescuer was relieved of this anxiety. A thorough check-up was the requirement as the circumstances in which Teddy was rescued could have resulted in a disease of any kind, which might very well have been communicable.

Teddy, it appeared, had nine lives and seemed almost indestructible. He’s lucky! What he experienced was pure terror. He was forced to fight for his life for an extended period of time.

It was also very fortunate that the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals took him in. They were able to find him a place to live instead of a shelter.

He was finally recovering. Panic-stricken, earlier Teddy had bitten one of the people trying to rescue him.

After careful tests, it was determined that Teddy was going to be alright. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.

The OAA workers had to patiently wait for Teddy to adjust to his pen for a couple of days. But he eventually warmed up to them. The pain medication they gave him also helped him feel more at ease.

The tests revealed that he was probably in a lot of pain, which is why he needed the medication. He got the best possible medical care that made it possible for Teddy to recover fully from his traumatic experience.

His veterinarian said that Teddy’s lack of stamina led him to gain a lot of weight and become sedentary. It led to even more trouble. Overweight dogs often experience problems such as joint and ligament degradation, along with the degradation of bones and inflammation in the bones.

On top of that, they often deal with higher-than-average blood pressure. He already has had his share of hardships, and medical complications were the last thing he needed. But one thing was sure; it would indeed be a long and challenging road to recovery.

As more people learned about Teddy, they started supporting him more. He became a symbol of tenacity and will to live in the face of adversity.

It’s evident that the digital age did Teddy a considerable favor. It changed Teddy’s life. His snaps on social media started getting more and more likes, and people started following his recovery on multiple social networking sites.

As Teddy’s story became somewhat viral, his health improved. He went from being a sluggish pup who was unfriendly and wanted to be left alone to playing and being affectionate. The OAA receptionist showed him a lot of care. Her name was Jessie.

Owing to her care and affection, teddy started believing in life again. Teddy had a spring in his step because he was finally gaining recognition.

Teddy is an elderly dog and will face more significant challenges than the average dog when he looks for an adoption. And yet, as undesirable as Teddy’s age may be, there are benefits. Firstly, you know that he’s not going to grow anymore.

Next, his behavior patterns are more or less settled. Additionally, he’s less likely to bite and is usually more docile and affectionate. He would surely make an excellent pet, especially for a young family.

Teddy could recover well because of the care that he got at OAA. He was indeed in good hands. Teddy’s online popularity stands as the epitome of the commitment of shelters to care for animals and promote them for their rehabilitation and adoption.

Online publicity is a cheaper way to promote the animals and increases their adoption rates. In addition to offering affordable animal procedures to the public, the OAA works to reduce the number of animals euthanized annually.

A total of six million animals are processed each year into the United States shelter system, of which about three million are dogs. Many shelters struggle to accommodate strays due to their sheer number.

All these factors come together to give us one inescapable reality: Shelters put down about 700,000 dogs every year, and it’s very depressing. Teddy’s story is a testament that life can change even if you’re in the tightest of spots.

If Jim hadn’t rescued Teddy and the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals hadn’t decided to rehabilitate him, Teddy would have probably perished in the mud. Consequently, he has recovered and can be active after all he went through.

It’s heartening to see him thrive, but at the same time, the idea that many like him don’t get a chance to live life to the max is disheartening. Teddy’s story gives hope that things can take a turn for the better.

Teddy’s story leaves one question — where is he now? We don’t know what he’s doing or where he is living. Teddy’s final fate is unknown. Most likely, he was adopted by someone who happened to be looking for a pet through Facebook or browsing the internet rather than coming across him some other way.

The story of Teddy inspires us to keep giving our best despite hardships because, eventually, things work out well.