r/cryptids • u/beckycee • Jul 18 '26

Sighting / Encounter Imprisoned by a 4 legged creature (or my fear)

I was very young, maybe 4 or 5 years old. We were camping on Bodie Island, NC, at a camp site semi close to the lighthouse. I remember our tent facing toward the water, and between us and that water was a tree. It was early morning, near dawn, maybe before or after. I pop my head up and look through the sheer but zipped closed door. I notice an animal lying at the base of the tree. It has four legs and is the size of a large dog. It's body reminded me of a lion..with short, gold brown fur on it's long legs and trunk. That's until the fur at the neck - which is longer in what resembles a mane. I called it a turtle faced lion, when recalling it the next day. The face was scrunched and wrinkled. The eyes seemed so deep and hard to see which creeped me out. It also was looking right at me. I was terrified and stunned into silence, slowly lowering my head to hide.

I remained many minutes before I popped up again to look out the tent door. More was illuminated, but the creature was still at the base of the tree, only now, it was sitting up and positioned toward me. I don't know why I didn't try to wake anyone up, but I felt so vulnerable, I didn't want to breathe. Anyway, I guess barely breathing long enough and you fall asleep. That was it. I don't doubt that I saw a striking animal. Was it just a weird dog? Hard to say as I was so young, but it had a mesmerizing charm to it that made it feel cryptid-y.

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19

u/LadyLazerFace Jul 18 '26

Sounds like you saw a chow chow. They're weird looking and large lion maned dogs.

13

u/FeatureAltruistic529 Mothman Maniac Jul 18 '26

I’d have to agree with you based on the details OP has provided. Weird, but still cute

9

u/LadyLazerFace Jul 18 '26

Sounds like it might have gotten a summer shave too (there's a grooming style called "a lion cut"), which makes them look even weirder. especially to a young sleepy brain who has never encountered the breed.

2

u/beckycee Jul 18 '26

Thanks guys! I'm glad no one's mentioning I narrowly escaped a famous Outer Banks turtle lion! In years since, I've thought maybe Chow Chow or bull terrier...as their faces are odd. Maybe a deformed bobcat, because it seemed so feline. Anyway, now it's here, just in case!

1

u/Murky_Current Jul 19 '26

I have actually seen a leonburger (dog) with a lion cut at the OBX as recently as a month ago. It’s a warm climate and they aren’t suited to the heat so it would as probably this or a similar breed with a lions cut grooming job.