Pacific Marine Mammal Center Needs Pedialyte, Donations For Pups

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — With more sea lions rescued than in years before, there is a shortage of much needed Pedialyte in stock, The Pacific Marine Mammal Center has said. In 2o2o, the first sea lion pup rescued was lovingly named Hanks, after Tom Hanks and the Golden Globes.

Hanks arrived after he climbed aboard a Savasana yacht while members were out sailing, unbeknownst to the sailors, according to the center.

"This little one was so malnourished, dehydrated and exhausted it decided to take a snooze in the below cabin, surprising everyone when they docked" they said.

The Windward Sailing Club called Hanks in, and now he is getting much needed fluid and rest at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.

Still, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center relies on the community to keep the animals healthy and get them back out to sea, where they belong. With so many rescues, supplies run low this time of year.

"The center is low on its Pedialyte stock with all of its recently rescued sea lion pups," the City of Laguna Beach city manager's office said.

According to the center's spokesperson Krysta Higuchi, when pups are first brought in, they are too weak to eat whole fish on their own. Malnourished and unable to eat solid food, the center has a recipe for that, and Pedialyte is a vital ingredient toward getting them back to healthy.

"The PMMC's trained animal care team tube-feeds the pup patients 'fish smoothies' so they can regain their strength," they said.

Fish smoothies are the answer, and the concoction, fed through tube feedings, is the first step in healing the ailing pinnipeds.

"It's like if you have a sick child. You don't give them a big juicy hamburger - you give them medicines and help them regain their strength," Higuchi explained. Once they regain their strength, it's back to full fish, swim and play time and bonding with the other mammals at Laguna Beach's Pacific Marine Mammal Center.

Please drop off unflavored Pedialyte donations at the PMMC's visitor courtyard from 10a.m. – 4 p.m. or have your donation shipped directly from Amazon.com to the PMMC at 20612 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, 92651.

Check out their wish list of all needed items at www.pacificmmc.org/our-wish-list