Posted on 11/27/2010 3:29:50 PM PST by decimon
A man has died after jumping into an icy river in Lancashire in an attempt to save his pet springer spaniel.
The 49-year-old man plunged into the River Lune at Halton but got into difficulties himself and died in hospital after being rescued.
Coastguard rescue teams, an RAF rescue helicopter, an inshore lifeboat and hovercraft and fire service water rescue experts were all called out.
Liverpool Coastguards urged people to call in experts to rescue animals.
A member of the public raised the alarm at about 1410 GMT, reporting that the man was in the water near the weir of the river in Halton.
The man, who was from Halton, was recovered by the rescue teams at about 1500 GMT and taken to Lancaster Hospital but was pronounced dead there later.
The dog survived and is being looked after by the man's family.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
I’ve had two labs that I absolutely adored.
I know that if I ever got into any trouble that they would have done their darndest to help me.
However, rescue attempts have to be done carefully. Would I go in and try to save them if they were drowning? Only if I could do it without getting myself in worse trouble than the dog. Generally if really strong swimming dogs are having trouble, there’s a good reason for it.
I would try to save my animals if I thought I could actually save them. I would have an extremely difficult time being able to look in the mirror if I didn’t.
Yes you are very right, rescue attempts have to be done carefully and thought out as much as possible.
"While we were walking in the woods one summer day, my young hound pulled the leash out of my hand and ran off after deer"
On a lighter note,when I read the first line of your post I though it read "my young husband pulled the leash! It certainly made the rest of that first paragraph entertaining!
I was a scout for 10 years. My patrol had a perfect record in the three years I served as a patrol leader.
Zero accidents, zero injuries, zero people lost.
Sure, we went on hikes and adventures and stuff, but my patrol knew better than to do stunts. That was my challenge, teaching them that they had to think first before going off and doing something. And bounce it off me or the assistant before you do it.
I was good about letting them do things provided they had a plan and they had some form of backup. All three of my assistants lead their own patrols.
We had a few hairy situations in my troop before and those had a lasting effect on me. We almost lost a kid I served with when one of the idiots stomped on his snow fort, and collapsed several hundred pounds of snow on him. We managed to dig him out.
Just stupid stunts like that. I am thankful I never had to rescue one of my patrol. I’ve done stupid things myself. Once flipped a snowmobile for no other reason than I was stunting off. It doesn’t take very long for you to get yourself in trouble when you are outside, especially in the winter, and especially if you are alone by yourself.
I'm prejudiced but believe Springer Spaniels are special... George W. had one (as did his mother) - remember the puppies born at the White House? They were Springers! They look at you with those liquid eyes and your heart just melts!
RIP.
Same here, our dogs are so loyal to us, I would make the same idiotic decision to jump into freezing water to save my dog too.
If they are in trouble in the water, I couldn't help them by swimming (and I have my WSI and BSA Lifesaving cert.) I would be looking around for a boat or a rope, otherwise no go.
I saved my 35 lb. Cocker Spaniel from an attack by two 75 lb dogs, one of which wounded my dog seriously before I could intervene. I think I can understand this fellow’s motivation. My dog has been extra grateful since the attack (last January) and has fully recovered (albeit with some psychological scars.) I didn’t realize the danger I was in until after I had removed the primary attack dog, with my bare hands. In retrospect, the tunnel-vision effect of the stress of the moment prevented me from making a balanced decision. Still, I have to guess I’d do it again.
We have a Springer in the family too.
A handsome guy.
Our neighbors, they live behind us, we have 1 acre lots and they share custody of of a brother and sister - wolf/Huskey mixes. When the husband has custody he lets he dogs run loose in the neighborhood. My dog freaks and my cat is hiding under the deck. I was just out there waving a pair of jeans at him, he must run 80#+ - I was jusjust trying to find my cat who I am sure is cowering under the deck.
That dog scares the crap out of me and my 45# Brittany but we were both just out there looking for our kitty.
Yes, I am an idiot. That dog knows I’m afraid of him.
Re the Jeans: sitting on a chair waiting for mending, the nearest available weapon.
Dang, I have a broom in the kitchen that was closes than the jeans.
Totally agree; I would jump in to rescue my Springer, or my GoldenDoodle, or my Lab/Weimeraner.....
When I was 11 years old I came a hair away from jumping into the flooded Holiday canal in New Orleans to rescue a dog.
In retrospect it was one of those times that unknown to me God intervened and kept me from doing something insanely stupid.
A minute later the dog managed to climb the bank on the other side and get out.
Our Siamese is much too smart to try such shenanigans.
Our Siamese is much too smart to try such shenanigans.
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