Thursday, July 3, 2008

Love in the Purest Form

Okay, this is a very random post (when are they not?) but I had to share this because it literally made me bawl my eyes out. For those that don't understand how someone could live with pets (even after having pretty shoes chewed) may have a better understanding to the unconditional love that you experience with pets as shown in the video. Honorable mention to Marevis who sent me this.

Here's the story:

In 1969, two friends, John Rendall and Ace Berg, purchased a lion. At the time, Christian the lion was a 35-pound cub. He had been born in a zoo. The friends raised Christian in their London home. All three hung out in a friend’s furniture shop on the weekends.

Within a year, Christian had grown to 185 lbs. Rendall and Berg realized they couldn’t keep him much longer. But they didn’t know what to do with him. A chance encounter changed that. Two actors from the film Born Free walked into the furniture store.

The actors recommended a conservationist, George Adamson, living in Kenya. Christian was soon in Africa. There he was rehabilitated and released into the wild.

In 1974, Rendall and Berg decided to visit Christian one last time. He was now a wild animal. Adamson told them it was doubtful that Christian could be found. No one had seen him in nine months.

The two flew to Kenya, anyway. On the day they landed, Christian appeared outside Adamson’s camp. Somehow, he knew. He waited outside the camp until Rendall and Berg arrived.

This video was taken during their reunion with Christian.

9 comments:

Carrie said...

I was so scared someone was going to get eaten. But honestly, I would LOVE to have something that big, wild, and furry love me that much...sniff, sniff.

Kate said...

Love the Aerosmith song in the background.

bv said...

Okay, this was amazing! I'm not going to lie. While I didn't cry I did think it was tender and let's face it, the song totally makes it even more emotional!

Michelvis said...

My favorite was when the Lion wrapped his little paw around dude's leg.

Seriously, I am a baby.

Going to play ball with my puppies.

bv said...

Way to make Rebecca cry TWICE today in my cube, geez.

Is this how Sigred and Roy got started?

Kristin said...

Yes, it did make me cry (almost - tears forming, not falling - I fight it). Anyway, thanks for sharing. I loved it!

Unknown said...

That was so freakin' precious! I'm trading in my pet hairbies for a lion!

You like how Britta spelled Siegfried and Roy? That was awesome!

Melissa and Jeff said...

Yes, I cried. LOVE IT. Unreal! I, too, loved loved the part when he wrapped his paw around one of their legs!! Animals are amazing... Unconditional love. Well, our cat Winston might have some conditions. Ugh - cats. xo,
Melissa

Angie said...

Michelle, I'm very upset because my hormones are already trying to adjust and that just made me bawl. Actually it was because I am a huge animal lover and that was just like what a pet would do. Thanks for sharing that.