Apple Valley Farm Sanctuary in Penrose, Colorado, is home to around 100 rescued animals, all lovingly cared for by Deanna Downer and her husband, Weldon. But while farm animals are their focus, the sanctuary has also been home to a different kind of resident.
This little jumping spider, named Ocho.
It all began last December, when Downer was watering a potted orchid in her bathroom. That’s when she noticed the tiny, black spider perched on the lip of the planter.
“I watered the plant, and he went after the water,” Downer told The Dodo. “So I grabbed a Q-tip, wet it and set it down next to him.”
Downer figured Ocho must be thirsty — and it appeared that he was.
Remarkably, the spider seemed totally unafraid of Downer, and the next day, he was there again atop the planter. Downer gave him another water-soaked Q-tip.
And soon this became a routine. Downer even began chatting with Ocho as she stood in the bathroom preparing for her day.
“I absolutely loved our daily chats,” she said.
Months passed, with Ocho remaining in Downer’s bathroom — and six months later, he’s still around. Nowadays, however, he’s taken to exploring the rest of the home.
He’ll still make the occasional appearance out in the open, but they’ve become less frequent.
“I always know it’s him when I do get to see him,” Downer said.
Downer is happy to have made a friend in Ocho, and she encourages others to keep an open mind about sharing their space — and their kindness — with creatures like him.
“We’re all so conditioned to believe insects or spiders, snakes, etc., are ‘scary,’” Downer said. “I want to show other folks that they really aren’t scary at all, and all they want is to be respected, just like us. My hope is that others would follow along and be kind to the spiders they see in their homes, instead of killing them.”
