Meet Shedd Aquarium's Newest Residents: Dogs!

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 2, 2013 9:15PM

Bruce is a 1-year-old pit bull-terrier mix adopted from Chicago Animal Care and Control through Safe Humane Chicago. Suspected of being trained as a fighting dog after being found with bite scars on his body, Bruce was adopted by Shedd Aquarium, and today, he’s a good-natured, attentive pup with floppy ears and a tail that wags in high-energy circles.

Dory is a 2-year-old shepherd mix adopted from the Anti-Cruelty Society. Dory was originally rescued by a shelter in Indiana after being dropped off by a previous owner for unknown reasons. Always ready to play, this fox-red dog perks up her pointy ears with a “what’s next” look on her face. Dory greets Shedd Aquarium guests with her mellow mood and a wag of her bushy tail.

This sweet-faced year-old Airedale mix came from Chicago Animal Care and Control. She was given up by her previous owner likely for behavioral challenges. Described by trainers as a reactive dog, she has demonstrated significant progress since arriving at Shedd Aquarium.

The Shedd Aquarium's "One World" exhibit will have some special four-legged guests this summer. The Shedd adopted three dogs from area dog rescue organizations and will introduce them to the new show as an example of how animals connect humans to the environment and as another example of the Shedd's approach to animal care.

The three dogs—Bruce, a pit bull terrier mix, Coral, an Airedale mix, and Dory, a shepherd mix—have been working with Shedd's trainers and will be part of meet-and-greets during the exhibit's run to showcase the aquarium’s extensive rescue and rehabilitation work as well as the four cornerstones of good animal care: healthcare, nutrition, the animal’s environment and training.

“We’ve always called it ‘The Shedd Way,’” says Ken Ramirez, executive vice president of animal care and training. “Positive reinforcement builds bonds of trust between Shedd’s trainers and animals that are central to our animals’ health and wellbeing. Now, guests can be inspired by seeing that the same training methods work whether you’re interacting with a one-ton beluga whale or a ten-pound terrier.”

The Shedd's "One World" exhibit debuts July 4 and runs through the end of the year.