High in the mountains of Ojai, California, lies a peaceful 200-acre animal sanctuary called Rancho Grande, home to rescued dogs, goats, sheep — and one incredibly affectionate camel named Albert.
While most animals at the sanctuary roam freely outdoors, Albert prefers a cozier hangout: inside his best friend Alex Murad’s house.
“He doesn’t think the house is off-limits,” said Murad, an animal caretaker at Rancho Grande, in a video for The Dodo.
Albert arrived at the sanctuary as a baby, rescued from a camel dairy farm. He was timid and unsure of his new surroundings — until he met Alex.
“The bond was instant,” Murad said. “He latched onto me like I was his parent.”
In those early days, Alex bottle-fed Albert around 10 times a day. But anytime Alex tried to step away to do chores, Albert wasn’t having it.
“He would cry out like a baby for his mom,” Murad said. “He just couldn’t stand to be apart from me.”
Sometimes Albert would fall asleep in Alex’s lap, completely content. Wherever Alex went, Albert followed — even inside the house.
“He’d curl up right next to my bed,” Murad said.
Of course, now that Albert is bigger, his indoor visits are a bit more chaotic. When he strolls through the kitchen, things get knocked over, countertops get cleared — but Murad doesn’t mind.
“He’s part of the family,” he said. “I’d never had a camel before, but now I can’t picture life without him.”
Albert may have outgrown his baby bottle, but he’s never outgrown his love for Alex — or his curiosity about what’s cooking in the kitchen.
To learn more about Rancho Grande, you can visit their website.
