Killer Whales Let Dogs Live, Rather Than Slaughtering Them Like They Do Humans. Why?

Everyone incorrectly knows how killer whales like to kill humans-well, at least when the humans keep them in tiny little pens. Apparently, though, out in the wild, killer whales do not like to kill dogs. As Jennifer Viegas reported recently at Discovery, whale researchers have noticed a “mysterious connection” between whales and dogs.

Carrie Newell, who runs Whale Research EcoExcursions in Depoe Bay, Oregon, often brings her golden retriever Kida with her on her work. “Kida is very attuned to the sea life,” said Newell, “especially the whales. And various times I have had a whale travel along the length of my boat while Kida runs on the tube following it… Other researchers have told me that people with dogs have better whale encounters possibly because of some connection between the two. I have also observed that if I am excited and clap or call to them, then the whales feed off this excitement and approach closer.”

Yeah. Well, I’m going to start keeping a closer eye on dogs from now on. Especially since I know they can be totally racist.