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After A Video Chat With A Rescued Dolphin, This Golden Retriever Got A Chance To Meet Her In Real Life

Humans aren’t the only ones who can get to know someone online and then meet them in real life. Turns out, some animals do too. At least these two have.

This Instagram-famous golden retriever from Tampa, Florida is named Kevin and he loves going on all kinds of adventures. Recently, this adorable doggy was invited to visit Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where he had a chance to finally meet his online pal. Yes, you read this correctly. And the friend we’re talking about is a dolphin named Winter.

More info: Instagram | cmaquarium.org

And here’s their adorable meeting

After A Video Chat With A Rescued Dolphin, This Golden Retriever Got A Chance To Meet Her In Real Life

Image credits: agoldennamedkevin

This beautiful friendship started when Kevin caught the attention of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Apparently, Kevin loves wearing his adorable duck hat and, turns out, one of the aquarium rescues, a dolphin named Winter, loves ducks too!

Kevin seems absolutely mesmerized

Image credits: Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Soon enough, Kevin and his human received a video from Winter and her animal care specialist, Katie Wojdyla, in which they said hello and invited the doggy for a video chat.

And here’s the famous video chat

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Clearwater Marine Aquarium (@cmaquarium) on Jul 30, 2020 at 2:21pm PDT

The aquarium posted a video of Kevin watching the video they had sent him and wrote this: “Is This The Start Of A Pawfect Friendship? We were hoping to make new friends on #InternationalDayOfFriendship and we think this can be the start of something special! Would you like to FaceTime soon @agoldennamedkevin?”

After A Video Chat With A Rescued Dolphin, This Golden Retriever Got A Chance To Meet Her In Real Life

Image credits: agoldennamedkevin

After that, they finally met via FaceTime, where the doggy was formally invited to come to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and meet his friend in real life.

“Kevin made the trip to CMA to explore Winter’s new home, including visits with the rescued resident dolphins”

After A Video Chat With A Rescued Dolphin, This Golden Retriever Got A Chance To Meet Her In Real Life

Image credits: agoldennamedkevin

“Kevin had the entire aquarium to himself and he met so many new friends,” Kevin’s human, Elysse Gorney, told Travel + Leisure. During his visit, Kevin had a chance to meet loads of new friends, including pelicans, sea turtles, and stingrays. After that, he went to the brand-new Ruth & J.O. Stone Dolphin Complex, complete with five pools and floor-to-ceiling windows, to meet Winter and the other dolphins, Hope, PJ, Nicholas, and Hemingway.

Here are some spectacular moments from the trip

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Clearwater Marine Aquarium (@cmaquarium) on Aug 16, 2020 at 6:30am PDT

“Swimming with Kevin in Winter’s old home was definitely a day I won’t forget”

After A Video Chat With A Rescued Dolphin, This Golden Retriever Got A Chance To Meet Her In Real Life

Image credits: Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Turns out, Kevin even got a chance to go for a swim in the Winter Zone with her carer Katie Wojdyla.

“Swimming with Kevin in Winter’s old home was definitely a day I won’t forget. Not only was it easier to breathe because we were above water, but it was an extra special moment where my passions for animals, the environment, and our oceans all combined. I absolutely love all our rescued animals at CMA, but there is just something about a dog that makes me smile,” Katie told Travel + Leisure.

This good boy looks so happy!

After A Video Chat With A Rescued Dolphin, This Golden Retriever Got A Chance To Meet Her In Real Life

Image credits: Clearwater Marine Aquarium

“I think this was honestly the best day of Kevin’s life! We are so thankful for all opportunities Kevin has been given,” Kevin’s human, Elysse Gorney, told Travel + Leisure. “His favorite part was definitely meeting Winter, and also getting to swim in the Winter Zone with some animal care specialists.”

After A Video Chat With A Rescued Dolphin, This Golden Retriever Got A Chance To Meet Her In Real Life

Image credits: agoldennamedkevin

Here’s what people thought about this adorable friendship

After A Video Chat With A Rescued Dolphin, This Golden Retriever Got A Chance To Meet Her In Real Life

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Lukas is a photo editor at Bored Panda. 4th year in Vilnius Gediminas Technical University as a graphic designer. Can do whatever he sets his mind to.

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Lukas is a photo editor at Bored Panda. 4th year in Vilnius Gediminas Technical University as a graphic designer. Can do whatever he sets his mind to.

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Julija Svidraitė is an editor here at Bored Panda who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Before starting her journey at BP, she had worked as a social media specialist at a marketing agency. She has also tried herself in a few different fields working as an intern: from practicing graphic design at a social media marketing agency, to being an assistant at a psychiatric hospital. Besides writing, Julija is also very passionate about illustrating, drinking coffee, and watching crime documentaries. You can find her in Bored Panda Office or reach her at julija.s@boredpanda.com.

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What do you think ?

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Tardis42 4 years ago

So, some trainers at an aquarium filmed a dolphin being instructed to make noise while they held a rubber duck, and a dog saw something moving on a screen and followed it, and now the two have had a video chat? Well then, I'd like to announce that Ryan Reynolds and I are in a serious online relationship.

0points

Quazmodic 4 years ago

I would have been more impressed if it was a cat. I like cats.

0points

Maria R 4 years ago

A rescue dolphin? To live in a tank is a rescue? That poor dolphin is living in captivity, if it was rescued it would be free.

0points

Bellatrix Lestrange 4 years ago

Sometimes an animal can not be released to the wild. An animal that has been raised in captivity by bad caretakers or is disabled in some way can't just be thrown out into the wild. A good zoo/aquarium will provide lots of enrichment (toys) to there animals and a habitat that closely resembles a real habitat. Keepers also must limit there interaction with the animals if they plan on releasing at some point.

11points

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Cynthia Souza 4 years ago

Winter cannot be released into the wild. She is a rescue because she lost her tail when it was tangled up in a net. She uses a prosthetic tail, and she needs medical care and monitoring of the prosthetic. You could watch her movie to get the whole story.

4points