NEWPORT, Ore. – A trooper found an injured harbor seal pup in a car with a pit bull during a DUII arrest in Florence last weekend and investigators continue to unravel the unusual case as the seal recovers in an Oregon aquarium.

Newport Aquarium/kgw.com photo

The Newport Aquarium released this photo of the recovering seal pup.

Officers got a call about someone in the Florence area showing off the seal pup at a store, according to OSP Lieutenant Gregg Hastings.

A while later, police pulled over a van, driven by 24-year-old Matthew Lane, and said Lane handed over the seal pup. The young animal was wrapped in a towel and had multiple puncture wounds and infections, Hastings said.

Lane told police he and his brother had been walking on the beach when they saw the pup being attacked by larger seals, so they scared them off.

Lane told officers he was driving around looking for a veterinarian, according to Hastings. There was also a pit bull in Lane's van, and police said they were investigating whether any of the seal's wounds were caused by the dog.

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Police took the injured animal to the Oregon Coast Aquarium for urgent care.

Lane was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants and possession of protected wildlife. It was later discovered that Lane was taking prescription medications, police said. He was cited and released and will appear in court next month, according to Hastings.

“Aquarium Veterinarian Dr. Steven Brown said when he first examined the seal, she was extremely lethargic with multiple puncture wounds, which appeared to be bites,” said Cindy Hanson, PR manager at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. “She also had elevated white blood cell count and hair loss which is evidence of trauma.”

Aquarium Mammalogist Ken Lytwyn added that the pup would have died in a short time if she hadn't received immediate care. "Her wounds were infected and she was very weak… but she's feisty and wants to live."

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Brown prescribed antibiotics for the pup and she began to show signs of improvement after 24 hours.

"The good news was, there was no evidence of a fracture," he explained.

Brown said the key to success in the pup's rehabilitation would lie with the aquarium staff. "Our goal is to release the animal without imprinting so she will socialize with her own species and survive on her own."

If the pup fully recovers, the decision to release it will be made by the National Marine Fisheries Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Dr. Brown and the aquarium staff. The cost of caring for the pup will be covered by grants from the Kinsman Foundation, the Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation and the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

Brown said this incident was an important reminder that people should leave wild animals alone, even if they are injured. He said the seal’s mother would have cared for it, or Good Samaritans could have called authorities for help, but they should not touch the animal themselves.