According to reports, Pet-shop owner Ryo Taira helped saved the baby dolphin from almost certain death after another person told him about it. Taira has been spending a lot of time rescuing animals that were abandoned or their owners died during the magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami.

Reuters reported, "Taira found the dolphin struggling in the shallow seawater on Tuesday and after failing to net it, waded in to the field, which had yet to be sown with rice, to cradle the 1.2-meter (four foot) animal in his arms. Taira and some friends wrapped the dolphin in wet towels and drove it back to the sea, where they set it free. The dolphin appeared to perk up when it was back in the Pacific, he said."

Taira is not sure if the dolphin will make it but firmly believes it's better to die in his home than in a rice paddy. We have to say that we agree. (c) tPC