He hopped the fence 7 times to be with his friends.
Lindsay McKenna did everything she could to help George the capybara settle in after he arrived at WildSide Exotic Rescue. Her first plan was to introduce him to the rescue’s group of five other capybaras, placing them together in a spacious enclosure with a pool and plenty of grass to roam.
But George made it clear he wasn’t interested — and the feeling was mutual.
“The other capybaras were making aggressive noises and chasing him,” McKenna, the owner of the rescue, told The Dodo. “He was clearly uncomfortable.”
Next, the team tried pairing George with just one capybara, hoping a quieter setup would work better. Capybaras are highly social animals, often living in large herds in the wild, so this seemed like a reasonable compromise.
It didn’t help.
Thinking space might be the issue, McKenna decided to create a completely separate area just for George, complete with his own swimming pool. But instead of enjoying his new setup, George repeatedly leapt over tall, five-foot gates and sprinted back to the barn.
“That’s when we really knew something was different,” McKenna said.
Capybaras aren’t known for jumping fences — and George’s story explains why. Though they don’t know his exact age, McKenna learned that George had been raised as an exotic pet in a home with dogs. When authorities later required his owner to install a swimming pool and they couldn’t, George was surrendered to the rescue in 2023.
Growing up around dogs left a lasting impression.
“He acts like one,” McKenna said. “He gets the zoomies, loves belly rubs, sunbathes on his back — and if a dog’s on the sofa, he’ll push them off so he can take the spot.”
After a year and seven escape attempts, the staff stopped trying to force George into a lifestyle he clearly didn’t want.
“Our approach is about giving animals choice,” McKenna explained. George chose people, dogs and the warmth of the barn — and the rescue accepted that.
Since early 2024, George has lived freely within the facility. Some mornings, he wanders over to the meerkats in hopes of a massage. If they’re not interested, he heads to the raccoons, who are happy to oblige with a good scratch.
Most often, though, George can be found beside his best friend — a rescue dog named Milo.
“They walk the farm together, nap on the sofa together,” McKenna said. “They’re inseparable.”
Throughout the day, George roams wherever he pleases, whether that’s curling up next to Milo, climbing partly on top of him, or resting near staff members’ feet. Milo’s presence gives George the familiar social comfort he seems to crave.
That doesn’t mean George is always on his best behavior.
“He can be cheeky,” McKenna said. “He’ll stand up and try to steal food from the prep tables.”
Rest assured, George isn’t going hungry. His diet includes guinea pig feed with added vitamin C, along with fresh peppers, broccoli, sweetcorn and potatoes.
While everyone at WildSide adores George, McKenna admits there’s sadness beneath the joy.
“I wish he could’ve lived as a capybara should — in the wild with a big group, grazing,” she said. “He was domesticated too young, and now he just can’t adapt.”
Even so, George’s life is safe, enriching and tailored to who he is. He sleeps securely at night, enjoys solo pool time each afternoon and spends his days roaming the rescue grounds alongside Milo.
George will remain at WildSide Exotic Rescue for the rest of his life — exactly where he seems happiest.