Laura-Leah Shaw forked over $1,000 to purchase the 22-pound lobster, dubbed Big Dee-Dee, from the Big Fish seafood market in Shediac, New Brunswick, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Sunday.

The report said two unnamed Ontario groups contributed $1,000 each to rescue the animal, which is thought to be 100 years old.

Big Fish was auctioning Dee Dee off for an opening price of $1,000, the Broadcasting Corp. said.

Denis Breau, owner of the fish market, said at least 1,000 people visited Big Fish to catch a glimpse of Dee Dee, who was caught in the beginning of July.

Shaw said she is preparing to travel to the Maritimes region of eastern Canada Monday to let Dee Dee go into the wild.