It’s well-known that puppies view the world with wide-eyed wonder. Even the simplest of things tend to grab their attention. Cactus, a young rescue in Florida, had one of those moments recently. On a walk with his owner, he spotted a few manatees moving in the water. His mix of curiosity, excitement, and a hint of fear made for a priceless reaction video that went viral on Instagram.
Instagram video shows rescue puppy reacting to seeing Manatees in Florida waters
Cactus, a young rescue puppy, recently went on an outdoor adventure that quickly became a memorable first for him. The moment was captured in a video shared on Instagram, with the caption reading, “My rescue puppy spotted something MASSIVE in the water in Florida.”
The clip begins with Cactus out on a walk with his owner, Mike Brown, when the curious pup suddenly jumps up onto a ledge and starts whining. His dad initially noticed a few “big shadows” moving beneath the surface of the water, but wasn’t quite sure what they were. Moments later, the shapes surfaced for air, revealing themselves to be manatees.
The gentle giants glided slowly through the water, while Cactus watched intently, alternating between curiosity and a touch of nervousness. “I had never seen them in the wild before so it was super exciting,” Brown said. “Cactus was completely locked in, just staring at them then got a little scared!”
Throughout the video, viewers can see the rescue puppy’s fascination with the manatees. His expressive reactions, from leaning forward to cautiously stepping back, captured the hearts of his fans. One joked, “He’s just happy to see sea potatoes.” Another suggested a storybook idea, writing, “Cool kids book. Cactus and the Manatee!” The pup’s adventure could surely inspire an entire children’s tale.
Many expressed a desire to watch Cactus visiting an aquarium, commenting, “NOW WE NEED A VISIT TO AN AQUARIUM TO SEE A MANATEE!!!!!” in all caps, full of excitement and anticipation. Others reflected on the unlikely friendship forming in that moment, saying, “I bet Cactus has a friend for life now.”
