I’ve always been curious how often animal rescuers are called out to situations that turn out to be completely different than expected or not even animals at all.
While these kinds of calls likely don’t happen every day, they’re a good reminder of how much kindness and community effort go into animal rescue, even when things take an unexpected turn.
But the situation we’re talking about today? It’s even stranger than a mistaken identity. What happened to these Colorado rescuers was downright bizarre.
They were going about their usual workday when they received a call from a Good Samaritan about what they believed was an injured dog. What the team discovered at the scene was something no one saw coming.
Not Even A Real Animal
Responding quickly, the team from the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region in Colorado made their way to the reported location. But once they arrived, what they found gave them quite the laugh.
The caller had been driving past and didn’t get a clear look at the “injured dog,” but thought it was best to alert someone, just in case.
When the rescuers reached the spot, they realized the supposed animal wasn’t an animal at all. In fact, it was a large stuffed tiger toy.
The kind you might win at a fair or carnival game.
Why anyone would abandon a stuffed tiger in the middle of an open field is a mystery. But the rescuers didn’t waste time. One of them carefully placed the plush toy into a kennel and brought it back to the shelter.
Not to rescue it, of course, but to prevent more people from mistaking it for a real animal. And, naturally, to share the funny story with the rest of the team.
The Internet Couldn’t Get Enough
Once the Colorado rescue team posted about their unusual find on Facebook, the internet had a field day.
The post quickly gained traction, with comments flooding in, most of them hilarious. Here are a few of the most memorable reactions.
One person wrote:
“I tried to rescue a toy grenade out of the road thinking it was a turtle. It happens.”
Honestly, same. I think many of us have had moments where we swore we saw an animal… only to find out it was something random like a shoe or a plastic bag.
Another added:
“Ok so now I want to see the follow up of the plush getting washed and rehabilitated and working as an emotional support officer at the station lol.”
That one had me laughing. You just know someone at the shelter is going to give the stuffed tiger a name and a little spot on a shelf somewhere.
Someone else joked:
“That is the world’s ugliest stuffed tiger! Lol. Good save tho. That’s funny.”
And yeah, looking at the photos again, I can’t argue. It’s definitely not the cutest plush out there. Probably one of those carnival prizes nobody really wants but wins anyway.
Still, this mix-up brought a smile to a lot of faces. It’s not every day a rescue call ends in laughs instead of heartbreak and that’s always a welcome change.