LEWES — Over Valentine’s Day weekend, some animal guardians gave a local seal much-needed love.

On Friday, the Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute rescued a 3-week-old seal pup, who was found huddled against the dunes at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes.

“It’s a good thing that she was reported to MERR when she was because it is unlikely that she would have survived the night on her own,” said Suzanne Thurman, MERR’s executive director. “The high tides we have been experiencing caused the waves to come all the way up to the dune, and she would have been washed out to sea.”

The little seal, who was named Cupid in honor of the recent holiday, received hydration, nutritional therapy and other veterinary treatments at MERR. Now, she’s finishing up her recovery at a long-term rehabilitation facility.

“We are hopeful that the seal will make a full recovery and be returned to her ocean home soon,” a press release from MERR said.

It also said that, until late April, visitors should expect to see seals on Delaware’s beaches, marshes and docks. It’s important to keep pets on leashes around the animals and stay at least 150 feet away.

To have a trained responder from MERR assess a found seal’s condition, call the organization at 228-5029.