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Incredible Video: Wild Gorillas Groom Man During Park Visit…as Huge Silverback Watches

Dec. 23, 2011 7:50am Liz Klimas

A man visiting Bwindi National Park in Uganda identified as John probably had one of the most fulfilling, shocking, scary, exciting, awe-inspiring moments of his life.

USA Today reports that park rangers call such encounters rare, but notes that the man was on a gorilla-watching tour, so the animals could be accustomed to humans to an extent.

The footage catches John getting groomed and thoroughly examined by a pack of baby gorillas and their mom, all while the huge daddy silverback stands close by (note: zip to 2:32 to get right to the grooming):

First, a baby gorilla checks out John. John keeps his head down to avoid appearing threatening. Right when you think it’s all over because the silverback pulls the baby away and gives John a good stare, the babies just walk behind John and set up shop grooming, as if he were one of the pack.

Man Groomed by Wild Gorillas at Bwindi National Park | Silverback Stands Watch

John gets groomed by baby gorillas under dad's watchful eye.

The female gorilla was interested in John's ear.

As John’s colleague kindly notes, papa is just three babies away. How is John feeling? “My heart is racing. [...] I feel like one of the gang.” As his colleague observes, John’s black shirt may be what helped him join the crew.

When it’s all over. Both men have a laugh of amazement — and relief.

John's expression after the gorillas leave.

Is John set to becoming the Jane Goodall of gorillas?

[H/T io9]

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Comments (154)

wrshpn
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:14am
That was AWESOME! This gentleman got his money worth that day, and an experience most of us will never have. Good for him.

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- MEANS2RESIST
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:54am
  Dick Cheney monkeying around…
  
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- gurneyelaine
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:50pm
  Why do you liberals always have to make such demeaning remarks. Shows how small you are
  
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- Luke611
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:06pm
  WHOA!!! What an experience!!! Im certain this is against the rules, but if he would have had a banana to offer, those little suckers would have sat on his lap. Who wouldn’t wish for an experience equal to that?
  
  Report this comment
- Victoriajensen
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 5:17pm
  That was awesome I can just imagine the excitement in him. Too cool thanks for sharing.
  
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- nifongnation
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 5:51pm
  Obama’s family would not treat Cheney that way.
  
  Report this comment
- Unix
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:48pm
  Nature at it’s best, this time, next time, may not work out so good. Maybe we’ll be reading about this type of thing again sometime, who knows? Wild animals should be left to the wild, IMHO. But God’s glory shone in the Silverback, did he not! Like a good dad, he steered the young one away from the human. These wild animals are majestic, but best left alone.
  
  Merry Christmas Blazers
  
  Report this comment
- Anti_Spock
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:10pm
  AHHHHHHHHhhhhh………………………………………………………………………… stunning………………
  
  Report this comment
- silentwatcher
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:37pm
  He’s going to feel like one of his b*tches if he starts kicking his arse
  
  Report this comment
- Segosa
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:53am
  @gurneyelaine… his comment wasn’t that bad. Sort of funny actually. Be open minded and don’t let things get under your skin so much. It’s time we learn to take small jokes, esp with people on our cheer leading team making remarks like nifongnation.
  
  @nifongnation… go back to your cave and stop giving conservatives a bad name. It’s people like you that throw fuel on the fire of the liberal slander machine.
  
  Report this comment
- Ruler4You
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 5:30am
  When ever I see an idiot like this I always think of ‘Timothy Treadwell.’
  
  Good thing Gorillas aren’t big meat eaters. Still, the idea of being beaten to death by your own leg makes me shy away from such an encounter.
  
  Report this comment
- dejon
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:47am
  Look the obama family is messing with a white dude again. Man, can ya just love that family.!!
  
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- Gorp
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:18am
  That would be awesome but I’d have to clean my shorts afterward!
  
  Report this comment
- thetreyman
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:06pm
  the racist comments are most unnecessary. grow up!
  
  Report this comment
- Finley McKinney
  Posted on December 25, 2011 at 6:29pm
  I would have needed to change my shorts.
  
  Report this comment
angelcat
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:46am
Great story! I’m glad the man didn’t panic and allowed it to unfold. My cats groom my hair sometimes too, but of course that is not in the category of this man’s experience.

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- HorseCrazy
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:56pm
  my horses groom me and it can be frightening to those who arent expecting it. cool story!
  
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LobsterBoy
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:45am
Just when you’re feeling like there couldn’t possibly be anything more wrong with the world and that we’re all on a fast track to hell in a handbasket, something like this comes along and offers a glimmer of hope for our existence as a species.

It’s shortlived however as you glance over to the sidebar on the same page, only to see 2 homosexuals kissing, being celebrated as some long overdue accomplishment for mankind.

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- betsyyoung
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 6:10pm
  I am with you Lobsterboy!!
  
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Lucky Strikes
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:31am
Amazing. I’m sure his thought of being killed at any second ran through his mind, but he ramianed calm and that kept him alive.

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- MSrebel
  Posted on December 25, 2011 at 7:04pm
  He’s lucky the silverback didn’t twist his head off and poop down his neck! Remember the lady with the male chimp, that tore the face and hands off the women’s friend. A gorilla is twice as big as full grown chimp. I’ll bet he soiled his undies!
  
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Sara72
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:28am
Amazing… WOW… Thanks Blaze staff.

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semihardrock
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:28am
the lady in Connecticut who just had plastic surgery to re-attach her face has a little different version.

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- Zen Patriot
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:04am
  Yeah, difference is that the angry Chimp ate human food and smoked cigarettes.
  
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- bucklywheat
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:22am
  Give it a rest semihardrock. Humans are much more vicious and unpredictable than gorillas and most other creatures. If we let them live in their own world there would never be confrontation. That chimp was put in a non-chimp world and expected to act like a human. It’s owner just didn’t understand it’s language but expected it to understand hers. She should never have been allowed to have it. Wild animals should be left in their own environment. What do you expect.
  
  Report this comment
- Rowgue
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:11pm
  @BUCKLEY
  
  Chimps are actually very confrontational with each other and occassionally canibalistic in their natural enviornment. People have just been bombarded with the images of semi-domesticated chimps for so long that they have a false sense of these animals being gentle loving creatures.
  
  Report this comment
- chips1
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:12pm
  ROWGUE:
  Sort of saying that gorillas are Christian and chimpanzees are muslim? Sounds about right.
  
  Report this comment
- Consentiondum
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:37pm
  And the hippies and gays are Bonobos… love those things.
  
  Report this comment
skypilot77
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:25am
Check your shorts guy.

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- larryj1978
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:00pm
  He definitely pissed himself. You can see the wet spot getting bigger at the beginning of the video.
  
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DebbieFisher
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:56am
In the Garden of Eden, according to those who accept the Bible as the literal truth, this would have been an everyday sort of encounter with all of the creatures that coinhabit the earth. Every now and again, God draws back the veil of that epoch and lets us see what we have been missing, to provoke our “jealousy” (the Apostle Paul’s word) and so prod us at least in the direction toward salvation.

Oh, and my compliments to the entire visiting party for their good sense and calm demeanor in this startling encounter. When people get hurt in this sort of a scenario, it’s usually because they panic or otherwise get excited and alarm the creatures into a defensive strike.

Oh, one more thing: Did you get the impression that this family group were touring the human encampment much like the way we visit the “wildlife safari” parks here at home — and out of good will toward us at that!

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- V-MAN MACE
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:27am
  I think I’m gonna get buck naked and go join the gorillas if humans keep acting uncivilized.
  
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- Hydra
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:30am
  According to those that believe the bible is literal truth, this planet has only been around for a few thousand years. So yeah, they are idiots.
  
  In response to the video in this article, he is lucky his face wasn’t ripped off like that lady a year or two back, wild animals are still wild yet beautiful creatures.
  
  Report this comment
- hi
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:03am
  Debbie
  I like your post! Before Adam and eve sinned there was no death, destruction, nor suffering. Animals were vegetarians. Paradise will be restored when Christ returns! It will be so fun to experience this as you said!
  Revelation says wolf and lamb will graze side by side which means there will be no more death or suffering!
  Merry Christmas!
  
  Report this comment
- spikebu
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:24am
  @hydra…according to mythology, Hydra was a many (8 or 9?) headed serpent slain by Hercules. Your basic statement was the Bible is a myth and anybody who believes it is an idiot. Do you see where I’m going? Have you cast a whole bunch of stones lately? Never fear, God is very forgiving.
  
  Report this comment
- spikebu
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:31am
  @v-man…I actually laughed out loud. I did not lol!
  
  Report this comment
- Johnny Cocheroo
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:49am
  @Hydra
  “According to those that believe the bible is literal truth, this planet has only been around for a few thousand years. So yeah, they are idiots. ”
  
  We’ll then you’re one of those people who believe that the universe exploded from a point that was infinitely small, when time didn’t exist and has grown into a size infinitely large. That also implies that there is another planet exactly like ours where you are doing the exact same thing at this exact moment. There are also infinite planets like ours where we have made different choices (China rules the world, we have blown ourselves up from nukes, you are a millionaire, etc).
  
  And you’re calling them crazy?
  
  Report this comment
- SgtB
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:31am
  I bet you are one of those people who believe that since there was no death in the garden of Eden, lizards just kept growing and growing along with fish and sharks and that really, the T-Rex was just an overgrown monitor lizard. Sorry, but you aren’t convincing anyone with your logic.
  
  What this incident was, was shear f’n luck. If that guy did a single thing to upset those wild animals, they would have had him in quarters in a second flat. He is one lucky guy. End of story. And do you really believe that without humans, our planet would be full of animals that NEVER kill each other for food or territory? You have got to be delusional.
  
  Report this comment
- SgtB
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:39am
  @ Johnny cocherochoo,
  
  Your attack of someone who doesn’t take the bible for literal truth is pretty narrow and shallow. First off, you and most people in this world don’t truly understand or appreciate the big bang theory. For starters, most of you assume that there is only one universe and only one big bang. Apparently you haven’t the slightest clue how big INFINITE is do you? Also, just because you believe in the theory that we live in an expanding universe does not mean that you automatically believe in alternate realities/dimensions or the possibility of time travel. These ideas are not synonymous.
  
  Report this comment
- sdavidson
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:00pm
  @SGBT You say, First off, you and most people in this world don’t truly understand or appreciate the big bang theory.
  
  Don’t need to understand it and certainly not appreciate it as the whole theory is just that a theory. Utter ridiculousness.
  
  Try this. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth.
  
  Report this comment
- Johnny Cocheroo
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 3:45pm
  @SgtB
  “Your attack of someone who doesn’t take the bible for literal truth is pretty narrow and shallow.”
  
  Sgtb…. read the posts. I wasn’t picking on him for not believing in the bible – he was picking on somebody else and I pointed out that both “theories” are equally as crazy.
  
  I’ve got a pretty good idea of what the scientists are talking about and judging by your post, I’d be willing to say I am at least on equal footing with your knowledge. I have read & watched articles about different theories including universe expansion, contraction, rips, dissolution of gravity and the universe becoming black wasteland. I have also read about parallel universes, the stretching of time and the REAL possibility of a planet exactly like ours because of the possibility of the universe being INFINITE (do you understand the meaning?)
  
  So what exactly aren’t I appreciating?
  
  BTW – they actually are kinda synonymous, considering that they all theories of the universe ;-)
  
  Report this comment
- Roger Bryant
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 7:48pm
  Debbiefisher,
  Your insight must have come from the WORD written in your heart. How delightful! — Roger
  
  Report this comment
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:50am
.
That was Cool…..

Merry Christmas Ya’ll……

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- Gonzo
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:53am
  You ever going to acklowledge this avatar Monkey?
  
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- SpankDaMonkey
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:07pm
  .
  Yes I have several times Purple & Gold look great on you
  
  Report this comment
hauschild
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:50am
Typical, modern human with no concept of reality.

At any moment, they could snap his neck like a twig and you’d all be sending your sympathies.

Face it folks, we’re getting dumber and more unwitting with each passing year.

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- bpodlesnik
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:35am
  And what would you have done if you were caught in that situation? Run around flailing your arms? Seriously, he had no choice but to take a seat and watch it unfold.
  
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- bucklywheat
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:33am
  Gorillas wouldn’t do that unless provoked, so back off hauschild. Who’s really the dumber. Those who are afraid to experience a true adventure of a lifetime, or the one who hides under a rock and lets the world go by? It’s phobics like this that are dangerous to every living creature that isn’t human.
  
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Warphead
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:45am
Wild animals do odd things sometimes. I was once sitting out side on a deck. The deck was probably 30 feet off the ground. Suddenly I saw two glowing eyes staring at me through the deck rail. A moment later there were two more, then two more etc. Finally one was brave enough and climbed through the deck railing. It was a young raccoon. He came over and sniffed my pant leg. Then his buddies emerged. There were seven in all. I sat very still so as not to scare them. The first one that appeared stood up and put his paws on my leg. I slowly reached out to pet him and he seemed OK with it. At least he didn’t seem to have rabies and I didn’t suspect any did considering seven had followed him. I petted him for maybe 30 seconds and then he just casually climbed up onto my lap. The little guys have sharp claws. This lasted for probably 30 to 45 minutes. During that time all seven had taken turns sitting on my lap and getting petted. As quickly as they arrived they left. I never did see them again. On my fridge there is still a picture of two raccoons sitting on my lap. My girlfriend managed to get the picture from inside the house through a window without startling our little guests.

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- biohazard23
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:51am
  That’s so cool! You’re lucky that the little guys weren’t rabid and that your GF had the presence of mind to grab the camera.
  
  Merry Christmas!
  
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- Darla_K
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:55am
  I saw a raccoon attack a guys hand and tear it up. It was a pet and did not like this guy who did not like him either.
  
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- Warphead
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:00am
  Come to think of it I have many unusual encounters with animals. I have been around dogs that just don’t like people. The owners have warned me that they will bite. Usually within 2 to 5 minutes I’m petting the dog and he is following me around like his long lost master. Same with cats. Maybe this is why I have eight resue dogs and 1 cat. They all showed up within two months of each other. I wonder how they knew to come to my house? Well, the dogs live the good life. They have a huge yard and their own doggie mansion complete with heat & air, a front deck to lounge on and plenty of room inside. Sorry, NO Vacancies! Eight really is enough.
  
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- Warphead
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:13am
  Rabies did cross my mind and I have also heard stories of someone getting hurt badly by a raccoon. I was dealing with seven so you could say I was taking a risk. My movements were slow, deliberate and careful as to not make the animal feel as if I’m trying to grab him. After the encounter I didn’t receive so much as a nibble from any of them. There was only one who gave me trouble as he seemed facinated with my hair and ears. Try sitting still with a raccoons nose sniffing around in your ear. As for the guy who had his hand bitten. You said he didn’t like the raccoon. I would imagine the raccoon somehow felt this. Generally I have found animals to be sincere with their emotional body language and expressions, unlike most humans I deal with.
  
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- Gonzo
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:55am
  I saw a rabbit leap ten feet and tear a mans head off. Oh wait, that was a Monty Python movie.
  
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- biohazard23
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:34am
  “That rabbit’s dynamite!”
  
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- Unforgiven718
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:26am
  @Warphead:
  
  I have had many similar encounters with raccoons, as well as skunks, opossums, and even a wild fox . I think animals can sense when you are afraid of them and if you mean them harm. I have always had an affinity for animals, and I suspect you do as well.
  
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Reload
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:41am
That would be a great story to lay on the proverbial “one upper” that everyone knows.

What an awesome experience to have!

Luck guy for sure!

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ares338
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:40am
Gorillas are amazingly gentle creatures unless you show aggression. It’s a good thing he didn’t try to do the grooming thing himself. I wouldn’t try that with a chimp though.

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- Darla_K
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:54am
  I had my picture taken with a young chimp years ago before I knew how agressive they could be.
  
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- Darla_K
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:57am
  I cannot imagine hunters hunting them in the wild. They have always fascinated me and I could watch them for hours.
  
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- JimmyP
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:26pm
  And you know the mind of a gorilla and how they define “agressiveness”? What if the gorilla
  
  Ya know, this is a sweet, Kodak moment and perhaps this guy is a Jane Goodall expert, but I think his actions are foolhardy. I hope this doesn’t encourage your average Joe/Jill putting themselves or their kids at risk.
  
  What if this silverback was the Ndamukong Suh of the gorilla world?
  
  Just sayin!
  
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- donotdrinkthekoolade
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 3:56pm
  That’s a sweet sentiment, Ares, but not entirely true. If a male gorilla perceives that you are a threat, even when you are not, you are still in danger.
  
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JustPeachy
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:40am
I truly hope they realize how risky this is. Wild animals can be totally unpredictable.

From the look of relief on his face after they left, it seems they do.

Glad it turned out OK!

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Devotedpatriot
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:40am
That was incredible and amazing! Wow!

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Wigglesworth
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:39am
A 150 lb chimp can tear a human apart so you can imagine what a 350 lb gorilla can do.

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searching for the Truth
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:37am
Global Warming theorists.

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cemerius
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:19am
Can’t wait to read the follow up, who will think “they too” can do this and get horribly mauled?

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- quicker
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:29am
  Maybe the gorilla was gay and wanted a little strange
  
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louise
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:13am
Something else!!! wow
HOWEVER, this will not be on my bucket list!!! lol

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biohazard23
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:11am
Holy crap!!! I guess his new nickname will be Tarzan?

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grannyrecipe
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:07am
‘So I was in the jungle the other day and all of the sudden these baby Gorillas were grooming my hair and the huge silverback male mas standing 3 feet away, staring at me point blank. No I wasn’t scared, we were doing mushrooms’.

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MattO
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:05am
Absolutely amazing!!!! :)

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NickDeringer
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:00am
Nice ear you got there, Dude. Be ashame if some one were to bite it off.

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americansfightingforcommonsense
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 7:59am
Very cool. could have been a very bad experience had Big Daddy got involved though.

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- bigdaddyt46
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:48am
  why would you say that???? i wouldn’t hurt anyone. LOL
  
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Baddoggy
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 7:53am
He would have to “groom” the poop out of my underwear…

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- laurie64
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:37am
  heeheehee~~~i agree totally! but still, amazing!!!!
  
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