Hearing someone say that they have a deep or meaningful relationship with their dog or cat is nothing new. Hearing someone say they uprooted their life for a raccoon is a little different. Here are three special relationships that go beyond the usual but are rooted in love.

1. Raccoons need love too

Dorothy Lee became the caregiver for a tiny raccoon after it was repeatedly clubbed by a golfer as a tiny kit. She tends to his every need: Feeding, bathing, exercise, play and grooming.

Blind raccoon gets second shot at life

Dorothy began caring for Trouper, an 8-year-old raccoon, after a golfer injured the animal when it was little.

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2. Duckling graduates sixth grade

This sixth-grade class tried to incubate and hatch 30 eggs. Only one survived. Meet the diaper-wearing duckling, Sergio.

Class's egg experiment hatches one lovely duckling

This sixth grade class tried to incubate and hatch 30 eggs. Only one survived. Meet the diaper-wearing duckling, Sergio. Video shot by Malcolm Denenark from Florida Today.

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3. Inmates are forever changed by wild horses

Randy Helm is a horse whisperer who teaches inmates at the Arizona State Prison Complex how to tame wild horses. Through the process of training wild mustangs, the inmates learn that they too can live another way.

Inmates learn valuable lessons as horse whisperers

Dashonte Abdul Al-Wakil never grew up around animals. Now he can't imagine a life without them.

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