Just got back from an afternoon at the Lake. I went on a Monday to avoid the crowds. Everything had been going very smoothly until I was edging up to the floating dock after a good outing. My elderly dog decided that he wanted out and before we could stop him he "leaped" for the dock.
He has done this several times before with sucess but then a lot but younger, this time with arthritus in his hips he did not make it. His front paws hit the dock but his hind legs and backside didn't and they pulled him into the water.
Thank goodness there were was a family fishing from the other side of the dock. They heard the splash and came right over to help. My wife and I were paniciking. My dog is my son and I'm wasn't ready to loose him to a drowning. While I kept the boat from hitting the dock and squashing my dog in the small space. The father and son lept into action and luckily were able to grab hold of his coller, and wilth difficulty, haul my 80Ib dog onto the dock.
Both father and son received scratches from the dock (not from my dog) during the rescue, but also received lots of gratitude from both my wife and myself.
I was able somewhat return the "good gesture" as when loading up the boat for the journey home, a young girl came up to me and asked if I could re-park her full size truck and trailer for her as she could not get it straight in the parking stall from being at a crazy angle.
I parked her truck for her and drove home, grateful that my dog was still alive and that the "idiots" that you sometimes meet at the ramps are far outnumbered by the good people.
He has done this several times before with sucess but then a lot but younger, this time with arthritus in his hips he did not make it. His front paws hit the dock but his hind legs and backside didn't and they pulled him into the water.
Thank goodness there were was a family fishing from the other side of the dock. They heard the splash and came right over to help. My wife and I were paniciking. My dog is my son and I'm wasn't ready to loose him to a drowning. While I kept the boat from hitting the dock and squashing my dog in the small space. The father and son lept into action and luckily were able to grab hold of his coller, and wilth difficulty, haul my 80Ib dog onto the dock.
Both father and son received scratches from the dock (not from my dog) during the rescue, but also received lots of gratitude from both my wife and myself.
I was able somewhat return the "good gesture" as when loading up the boat for the journey home, a young girl came up to me and asked if I could re-park her full size truck and trailer for her as she could not get it straight in the parking stall from being at a crazy angle.
I parked her truck for her and drove home, grateful that my dog was still alive and that the "idiots" that you sometimes meet at the ramps are far outnumbered by the good people.
