NIANTIC, Conn. (CNN) -- A Connecticut man couldn't bear to see a giant lobster's life end on the dinner plate. So he did what any nice guy with a soft heart would do. He bought the crustacean and released it back into the ocean in a secret location.
The dock restaurant in Niantic sells a lot of good-sized lobsters, but one lobster really tipped the scale. At around 17 pounds, you've got "Larry".
Kristen Eighme says, "A small dog. He was huge, gave me a good workout this weekend."
Eighme was Larry the 17-pound lobster's nanny. Thankfully for Larry goodbye didn't mean he became a meal.
Don Mackenzie, an admitted lobster-lover, to eat that is, became Larry's savior. The "Boats, Inc." VP bought the big boy for an undisclosed price. He'll only say he had to throw down a few Benjamins for Larry. He says, "I called the aquarium. They didn't want it, but they told me how to release it."
So Don, Larry and a couple others went for a boat ride Tuesday. Mackenzie says, "We found him a nice spot about 25-to-30 feet deep. There are a lot of rocks around there that will hopefully dodge the draggers, he's too big to fit into a lobster pot."
Larry's new home is also a secret for his own protection. Both Larry and Don are now inspirations. Mackenzie says, "We'll go let one go. It makes you feel a little better, contribute back to the population."