Animals may not be human, but they have heart. A dog can save your life. You can be friends with a dolphin. A lion can remember his human masters even after one year of separation. We’ve all heard the stories—and they have helped us realize just how magnificent animals are. In case you need a refresher course, we’ve listed 12 of the most touching animal stories on the internet in the slide show below. Prepare a box of tissues because you’re going to need it.
1. CHRISTIAN THE LION
In 1969, flatmates John Rendall and Anthony Bourke saw a lion cub in a cage in Harrods department store of London, England. They decided to buy the little creature and name it Christian. They played with him, fed him, and loved their furry houseguest. Eventually, Christian became too big for their flat, and they decided to reintroduce him to the wild in a sanctuary in Africa. After one year, they decided to visit Christian even though the people at the sanctuary said that there was no way that Christian would recognize them. They didn’t listen. Watch their tearful reunion below.