Dog Saves Loggerhead On Florida Beach

Nov. 5, 2007 - PRLog -- Stuart, Florida -  Ten to fifteen-foot waves preceding tropical storm Noel sent a loggerhead turtle crashing onto a south Hutchinson Island beach, only to be discovered and saved by an 18 month-old Golden Retriever.

Completely hostage to and immobilized by monofilament fishing line, the loggerhead, an endangered species worldwide, was discovered laying dormant and upside- down on a windswept beach area north of Stuart Beach.  Its left fin surgically severed, presumably from the fishing line. Its neck and three remaining fins completely entangled and drawn taught with the fishing line.  Witnesses reported that the tension on the fishing line was so taught it is unlikely the loggerhead had any mobility at sea during its horrific ordeal.

Koa, a Golden Retriever who frequents the area beach daily, discovered the loggerhead on the beach drift and summonsed his owner.  The loggerhead, now appropriately nicknamed ‘Noel’ after the tropical storm responsible for beaching him, initially appeared to be dead.  Surprisingly, while in the process of cutting and removing the fishing line, Noel gasped for air and lifted his eyelids.  

12 hours later following a overnight stay in the back of a pickup and the efforts of Koa,  four concerned local residents and the FWC, Noel is undergoing rehab at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center of Juno Beach.  Noel’s remaining right flipper is infected and gangrenous. He is being treating aggressively with antibiotics in an effort to stop the infection. If this turtle loses the other front flipper there is no way it can survive in the wild.  
   
Normally, Noel might have died at sea. Instead, the storm pushed him onto the beach providing him with an opportunity for survival.  Those interested in following Noel’s hopeful recovery and journey back to sea can do so by going to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s website found at http://www.marinelife.org and  http://blog.marinelife.org  Additional pictures and reports of Noel’s progress are posted on the websites.  The Loggerhead Marinelife Center is a not-for-profit 501(c)3-sea turtle rehabilitation & education campus. The campus rehabilitates, houses and exhibits live sea turtles and other coastal creatures.  Adopt-a-turtle and general donations help support the center. Those interested in making donations can do so by going to  http://www.marinelife.org or calling 561-627-8280.

Website: www.marinelife.org