Man Rescued What He Thought Was An Injured Beaver, But It Was Actually A Different Species
A natural compassion for animals often sparks an irresistible drive to help when they're in trouble. This is the real-life story of a man whose profound love for all creatures inspired him to step up—and go the extra mile when it counted most.
Come along as we trace the heartfelt journey he undertook after crossing paths with an animal desperately in need of care and compassion.
The Day Started With A Walk With His Dogs
That day would mark a turning point in Jim Passmore's life—though he had no idea then. It started just like any other day.
As a longtime Broken Arrow, Oklahoma resident, Jim loved taking walks to enjoy the fresh air. On this crisp March morning, he set off with his dogs, venturing into the nearby woods for a quiet, peaceful walk.
Meet Jim Passmore
Jim has always shared a profound connection with nature, and residing in Broken Arrow provides him with countless chances to embrace it. Surrounded by rolling hills, tranquil lakes, and stunning landscapes, he's constantly reminded of the beauty that envelops him—something he cherishes every day.
Though he deeply values the wildlife and serenity his walks bring, there’s something even more precious to him: his dogs. His affection for them is immense, but his kindness extends well beyond—to every animal in need.
Walking Along The Creek
Jim and his two dogs usually stuck to the same familiar path during their daily walks. However, one day something unusual near the creek grabbed his attention.
At first, it appeared to be just a log floating in the water. Intrigued, he moved closer to get a better look. As he focused, he realized it wasn't a log after all—it was covered in fur.
Some Animal Had Been Trapped
It seemed an animal was caught in the mud. Jim cautiously approached for a clearer look, and what he discovered shocked him. The creature was struggling, clearly weak, and had likely been trapped near the creek's edge for quite a while.
What was normally a calm, half-hour walk was about to turn into something completely unexpected. Jim realized this day would be far from ordinary—and would require more time and compassion than he ever imagined.
Jim's Dogs Weren't Having It
As Jim approached the odd mound, he noticed his dogs acting out of the ordinary. Knowing the area well, their sudden shift in behavior unsettled him.
They began growling softly but with a threatening edge, their protective instincts on high alert. Oddly, they blocked Jim from moving closer, as if signaling him to keep his distance. Without delay, they started pulling back, visibly unsettled by whatever lay ahead.
The Stunning Find
He followed his intuition and pressed onward to figure out what was floating. First, he noticed an animal cage. Okay, that was weird, but it could help figure out what this animal was.
Jim's first thought was that it was a beaver. That would make sense. I mean, beavers float in the water all the time. Surely, they're just minding their own business and doing their own thing. But the cage made that claim seem odd.
What He Found Gave Him Shivers
The cage looked like something you would transport animals in, so he peered inside to see if he could gather any more information about what it could have housed.
Maybe the beaver was using the cage as shelter, or maybe it was a few groundhogs using an abandoned cage as their home. The scenarios kept running through Jim's head. But, that wasn't the case at all. What Jim saw sent shivers through his spine.
It Was On Purpose
There were feces all over the ground of the cage. Jim also found a blanket that was incredibly dirty, and a weighted chain. This was the moment that Jim knew something wasn't right.
Someone had purposely done this. Someone had chained an animal to this cage and now it wasn't there. He saw a whole bunch of weird markings on the cage. There was a huge bite on the side of it.
Maybe It Was A Beaver?
Oddly enough, a beaver came out of the woods and startled Jim. So, he followed the beaver to the riverbed and it finally came to a halt.
He had no idea what he was doing, following the beaver, but he felt like he needed to do it. Just a couple of feet away from the beaver there was a struggling animal. It was the same mound that Jim had seen earlier.
Jim Followed His Gut
The dampness of the woods and the ground had become increasingly soft. Jim ventured forward and quickly saw that the animal was bigger than a beaver. It couldn't be a beaver.
The large creature seemed stuck in the mud, and Jim sprung into action without thinking. He had to help the poor critter out, but one thing kept playing in his mind—he still had no idea what this thing was.
He Was Going To Get It Out
Whatever it was, Jim was certain that he was going to get it out. He couldn't bear to leave a struggling animal fighting for its life.
Jim figured that if this was, in fact, a beaver, it would be incredibly territorial. While his gut feeling told him that it probably wasn't a giant beaver, he still needed to be aware of those teeth just in case it decided to get free and chomp him like a salad.
Could It Be Rabid?
Beavers usually bite humans when they have rabies too, so this whole situation could go from hero to zero very quick. Jim called over a few people to help him, and one of them ended up getting bit.
They rushed him to the hospital, but the rest of the team ended up staying put to try to get this animal out of the mud. Jim had to come up with a plan to avoid getting attacked again.
It Was Their Only Option
Jim realized that he had to cover the animal's head. He had no idea how long it had been in the creek for and it was surely alarmed by the number of people trying to get it out.
It quickly calmed down after the jersey was placed over its head. I mean, not going to lie, I would be freaking out even more if my vision was suddenly gone, but good for the animal.
They Needed A Plan
Jim needed a plan that could hoist the animal out of the water. They tried to dig around it, but since the animal was half submerged in the mud, it was incredibly difficult.
They needed a pulley system or some sort of crane. Unfortunately, there wasn't going to be a crane any time soon, so they would have to go with the pulley. They quickly realized there was a flaw, though.
The Plan Finally Worked
The mystery animal was refusing to budge. It seemed like it was truly stuck and had no plans of wanting to be free. But, they kept trying and eventually, they started to feel it getting looser.
This gave them a new sense of will to try even harder. They gave it one final yank, and the "beaver" was lifted to safety. But, as Jim wiped the animal's face, he stumbled backward.
This Was No Beaver
This was no giant beaver. This was no giant groundhog. This was a dog. Beneath the mud was a quivering, yet beautiful sheepdog. They weren't messing with a territorial beaver, they were dealing with a scared dog.
It looked like the dog had been there for quite some time, but was in relatively good shape considering all of the stuff that seemed to happen to it. So, how did it get there?
The Beaver's Sidekick?
Jim called the police, and they were quick to the scene. What was so bizarre to Jim about this whole situation was that he was led to the dog by the actual beaver he met near the cage.
Was this dog being taken care of by the beaver? I mean, obviously, there isn't much a beaver can do for a dog, but it's cool to have a fantasy that they were buddies.
They Had A Main Priority
The more time the guys spent with the dog, the more they realized that it was in really poor condition. The dog was only a little bit responsive.
The main priority was to keep the dog warm and comfortable. They would come to know the dog as Teddy. And by putting a blanket over it, they felt like Teddy was only going to get better in terms of his immediate health.
He Couldn't Walk
They knew that they had to get him to some professional treatment fast. But, Teddy was in no shape to be able to just wander or walk by himself.
They decided to use the resources that they had around them and grabbed a wheelbarrow. They weren't about to go and rushed back to their car. Teddy was obviously tired from the exhausting experience of constantly trying to get air while being stuck in the mud.
They Pooled Their Resources
Jim dialed up the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals (OAA) and the team worked quickly to get Teddy into their care. The team was warned that they would have their work cut out for them.
Teddy was still unreceptive to humans, and while the way that he ended up in the creek is unknown, there are credible theories. One theory was that he got hit by car, was injured, and his owner left him to die.
The Scenarios Were Sickening
Another was that his owner didn't want him any longer so he brought him out in a cage and tried to harm him.
They landed on the name Teddy because of his cuddly appearance. They would have to work on Teddy actually trusting humans again in order for him to act cuddly, but it was a work in progress.
The Rescue Could've Resulted In Death
If a shelter had received the call for help, they probably would've euthanized him. Teddy ended up receiving the vet care that he needed. He was finally in stable condition.
In a panic, Teddy had bitten one of the people trying to save him. There was some concern that he might have rabies. After some thorough testing, it was determined that Teddy didn't have any rabies which was a relief.
It Was Taking Some Time
It took a couple of days for Teddy to fully get used to his pen at the OAA. Eventually, he warmed up to the workers. They administered pain medication that also helped him come back to a state of ease.
After some more testing, they realized that he was probably in a lot of pain which is why the medication was necessary. But, there was still a major problem that needed to be fixed.
His Biggest Hurdle
Teddy's vet chalked up his inability to gracefully move around as a reason to why he was unhealthy. He wasn't very active for a dog and became severely overweight., which only added to the problems he was already facing.
Overweight dogs are prone to joint, ligament, and bone problems, as well as internal organ dysfunction, high blood pressure, and diabetes. He was going to have an uphill battle to get back to health.
A Viral Sensation
But as Teddy's story started to get slightly viral, his health started improving. He went from being a sluggish pup that was unfriendly and wanted to be left alone to being playful and affectionate.
He really found a caring person in the receptionist at the OAA. Her name was Jessie. It was almost as if Teddy was excited he was finally getting famous. Well, doggy famous anyway, and probably not famous for the right reasons.
He Was A Senior Citizen
Teddy is a senior dog, and prospects for adoption for seniors are slimmer. Basically, despite the obvious drawbacks to adopting an older dog, there are some benefits.
For one, you know they're not going to be getting any bigger. Two, their behavior isn't going to change all that much. And three, they're typically less likely to bite and can be docile and affectionate. They're usually better for a young family.
Where Is He Now?
Teddy was adopted! On Teddy's new official Facebook account, this amazing update was posted. "Teddy was adopted by one of the only people he liked at Alta Vista Animal Hospital while staying there. He was a bit on the cranky side when he first arrived at the clinic, but now lives in his new home with his momma Jessie and other dogs." We saw her picture a little earlier.
Teddy is now in a loving home surrounded by his new family, and he looks so happy in all of their update photos. Here they are, enjoying the great outdoors together.
He Loved His New Home
Teddy's new family shared this adorable photo of him enjoying the great outdoors. It said, "Sunsets and rainbows here this evening! We've all been running [around] since we got home from work!" Teddy looks totally worn out in that good, happy way that dogs get after running around.
Teddy's new family was blessed to have him, and he was so lucky that he was given another chance at a great life.
Teddy Crossed The Rainbow Bridge In 2020
Thanks to his rescuers and adopted family, Teddy got to live out his life in a comfortable home surrounded by love. Sadly, Teddy passed away in 2020 but he will live forever in his owners' hearts.
