One day, when one of my dogs kept swimming out into the ocean and I had no idea what he was
up to out there, Owner noticed that he would disappear then reappear a little while later.
And one day, he looked not at the water but within. The
reason his daily swim routine was so important suddenly became clear
Although Tory Island might not be the most happening place, it does offer a tranquil retreat
for locals and visitors. This small, sleepy island lies just off the coast of Donegal in Ireland
and is home to just under 150 residents. However, in 2007, a strange phenomenon on the island
caused the location to hit the headline. The incident revolved around a local Labrador
named Ben. Ben belonged to hotelier, Pat Doohan and usually preferred
hanging out on land rather than by the sea. But then Ben suddenly developed a love for the
ocean. He began to enjoy playing on the island’s pier in Middletown and according to his owner,
he spent up to three hours in the water several times a day. But it wasn't until
later the Doohan learned the reason why Ben had started his infatuation with the sea.
After watching the dog, he realized that Ben had made an unlikely friend and their relationship
was a real sight to behold. As word of Ben's unusual swimming buddies spread media outlets came
to catch a glimpse of the strange spectacle and crew’s from the BBC television show ‘Countryfile’
caught the whole situation on camera. The show's footage began with Ben sprinting
down the Harbor walls. He came to a stop at a set of steps before climbing down them
and into the sea. Once fully immersed, he started to paddle away from the shore
into the open water. As Ben continued to swim, there was a sudden splash in the water beside him.
Then from the waves up popped a gray nose. It appeared for just a second before returning
underwater, but it soon became clear the shiny snout was that of a dolphin.
After a few moments, the dolphin reappeared and the pair began to frolic in the sea. They swam
together side by side and the Labrador looked on, as the dolphin bobbed in and out of the water.
The spectacular show only came to an end when the dolphin followed a local fishing boat out
of the Harbor. At that point, Ben returned to shore and clambered back onto dry land. However,
that wasn't the last he saw of his aquatic acquaintance. The dolphin in question is well
known on the island. The majestic animal was first spotted in Tory islands Harbor in April, 2006.
And locals there believed the creature had a tragic story behind her. The dolphin first
appeared around the same time that the body of another dolphin was washed up on the island.
“People think it was probably her partner because they are believed to have only one mate in life.
That is why she has stayed behind.” Doohan told the Irish independent in 2007.
But in the water surrounding the island, the dolphin found a new lease of life.
Islanders took the dolphin in as one of their own and even named her Duggie after local resident,
Willie Dugan. Soon Duggie began to stay near to the shore. “Occasionally a school of dolphins will
go by and she will join them,” Doohan revealed. When I see them, I think she will forget the
island and go back to her wild ways, but she never does. “One of the things keeping Duggie
on the island is all the attention she gets there. Last weekend, we had a large group of
visiting adults and children all out in wetsuits, wanting to swim with her,” Doohan revealed.
She definitely stays around longer. If she has an audience.
She starts going around the Harbor, bringing her tail up and splashing away.
And with her best friend Ben around, it looks like Duggie has even less reason to leave Tory.
The pals’ daily swims together are the stuff of legend on the island. However, theirs is not the
only dog dolphin friendship on the planet. In Perth, Australia, a golden retriever
became famous for splashing around with a dolphin on Rockingham beach. Meanwhile, footage emerged
online of a black Labrador puppy swimming with a pot of dolphins off the coast of Mozambique.
However, neither of those relationships come close to Ben and Duggies. The pair are so
finely tuned that his owner claims the Labrador can sense the dolphin approaching the land.
“Ben was always on alert,” Doohan told national geographic. “You know, whenever he was hanging
around the hotel, he'd be lying there quite calmly. Next thing he would jump up and the ears
would be sticking out in the air.” He added, “the dog would then take off. He would run a couple of
hundred yards down the pier under the water.” “He'd be swimming around. And the next thing
you'd see the dolphin coming in and jumping about.” how did the dog know that the dolphin
was coming? It was amazing. Or perhaps it's just a sign of true friendship.