During a vacation to Cornwall, Stanley the dachshund and his owner Melanie visited the local seal sanctuary. There, Stanley quickly befriended a seal pup named Aayla. Their adorable bond captured hearts everywhere.
Aayla, a 2-year-old dachshund, playfully swam up to the window and interacted with Stanley for nearly 20 minutes. Georgina Shannon from the Sea Life Trust Cornish Seal Sanctuary mentioned that Aayla enjoys socializing with both people and dogs, and has made friends with dogs before.
Due to the cold, the dachshund had its ears tucked into its snoot, leading Aayla to mistake Stanley for another seal. Aayla imitated typical dog behaviors like waving and tilting her head, showing her fascination with Stanley as she spent a long time watching him through the glass, as seen in the photos.
Owner Talbot of the dachshund remarked, “It felt like we became friends instantly.” They seemed to communicate by booping their noses against the glass. They posed for photos, with Aayla’s head tilt making her look more like a dog than a seal. Talbot mentioned that dachshunds often curl up when they sleep, resembling seals. It’s no surprise they hit it off—they’re both pups, after all!
The Sea Life Trust Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, Cornwall rescues and rehabilitates seals and other marine animals. They aim to release them back into the wild once they recover, providing a permanent home at the sanctuary if needed. Aayla is among the many animals rescued and housed there.
