For most dogs, their friend groups usually consist of a mix of humans and other dogs. But Lili, a 3-year-old dog who lives on a French Polynesian atoll called Fakarava, isn’t like most other dogs. She prefers friends who have gills and fins. In fact, her very best friend is a shark.

Ever since Lili’s mom, Emmanuelle Larchet, adopted Lili, she’s known that her dog has an affinity for all things aquatic. She started swimming in the lagoon near Larchet’s house when she was only a month old.

“She’s really a water dog,” Larchet told The Dodo.

There are around 100 sharks who live in this lagoon near Larchet’s house. So when Lili swims in the water there, she’s surrounded by them. While many dog parents would be terrified to see their dog swimming amongst sharks, Larchet knows that the sharks Lili swims with are nurse sharks, who are actually very docile creatures.

“We call them sea puppies because [they’re] like dogs, actually … They are very nice,” Larchet said.

Larchet likes to joke that when Lili swims around with her shark friends, it’s sea puppies meeting earth puppies.

Emmanuelle Larchet

Over the years Lili has been swimming in the lagoon, there’s one shark in particular she’s grown especially close with. His name is Sharky, and he and Lili visit each other almost every day. Larchet and Lili are able to recognize Sharky because he has a special marking on one of his fins.

Lili and Sharky like to explore their lagoon together. They enjoy splashing around in the warm, clear water.

“He comes to say hello every time she sees him,” Larchet said.

Even though Lili and Larchet are best friends themselves, Larchet is more than happy to share her Lili with Sharky. And even though Larchet watches Lili hang out with her shark friends all the time, it never gets old seeing them spend time together.

“[When] I see her swimming with Sharky, [I’m] so happy,” Larchet said.

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Source: USA Today