“He would just lay down right next to my bed.”
Tucked away in the scenic mountains of Ojai, California, Rancho Grande animal sanctuary stretches across 200 peaceful acres. It’s home to a wide array of rescued animals — from playful pups to gentle goats and fluffy sheep — all enjoying the freedom and safety of the open land. But one resident stands out for his surprising preference: a charismatic camel named Albert, who would rather relax indoors than roam outside.
“He doesn’t really recognize that inside spaces are off-limits,” said Alex Murad, an animal caretaker at Rancho Grande, in a video for The Dodo.
Albert was rescued as a young calf from a camel dairy farm. From the moment he arrived, he formed a deep connection with Murad, bonding in a way that surprised everyone.
“There was an instant bond between us,” Murad recalled. “He made it clear from the start that he trusted me.”
In Albert’s early days at the sanctuary, Murad bottle-fed him up to ten times a day. But any time Murad stepped away to handle chores or check on other animals, Albert would cry out — loudly.
“He would scream like a baby calling for its mom,” Murad said with a laugh.
Sometimes, Albert would curl up in Murad’s lap and drift off to sleep. Wherever Murad went, Albert was close behind — including into the house.
“He used to sleep right next to my bed,” Murad said. “He’s always been completely attached to me.”
As Albert grew, maneuvering inside the house became a bit more complicated. These days, his visits to the kitchen often result in a few toppled objects and minor chaos. Still, Murad welcomes him with open arms.
“It’s definitely not something I ever expected,” he said. “I’d never cared for a camel before — but now I can’t picture my life without Albert.”
Albert’s story is a quirky and touching reminder of the unbreakable bonds that can form between humans and animals — even the most unexpected ones.