We almost lost Sawyer!

[Kris and Sawyer]

Oh my goodness! My husband and I took Sawyer for our typical walk along the river. The current is extremely fast this time of year. We always have him on leash, but for whatever reason today he just bolted in--leash and all!! He didn't know what to do with that current and in just a few seconds he was being swept downstream! My husband ran 100 yards ahead and started stripping down... I just kept running along the bank and calling his name. Poor thing kept choking on the water as he tried to doggie paddle to the side. He made it to where I was but the bank was too steep and too full of trees and bushes to pull himself out, especially with the current fighting him. I tried to remain calm, in fact, all I kept thinking about were the stories I've read of humans trying to save their dogs and it turning out badly for the humans, but the dogs figure it out and turn out fine. I pushed myself through the branches, put one leg all the way in the water, and reached for his little doggie bone poop bag holder that's attached to the end of his leash, it was floating near me. Thank goodness for that! His leash would have sunk, but that little plastic bone hovered above water! I pulled him as close as I could, but I was sliding down the bank as well.. So I just kept inching myself up a little at a time.. And finally he got enough footing to pull himself out. My poor husband was just waiting to dive in, but he ran so far down he couldn't hear me yelling to help us. Phew, that was more adventure than I needed for my lifetime. Had to give him a major bath when we got home... Bummer is we just had him groomed on Wednesday! Lol..

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

OMD how frightening!  Glad you're ALL safe.  I vote for a life vest.  And thank you for sharing.  We have a canal path where I walk Finn.  The canal is 8 to 10 feet deep with steep banks.  It looks calm but it has wicked undercurrent.  2 people have drowned.   Yet, I used to walk with people who used to tease me that I wouldn't let Finn run the path off leash like their dogs. I guarantee, Finn would be sniffing or playing and slide in and I guarantee he wouldn't be able to climb out on his own.  Watching their dogs was so nerve wracking, I stopped walking with them.  Down in VA on the James, Finn always has a life vest on unless I take him to a beach- like part of the river that's shallow.  One of my friends said "that damn dog is part poodle and part lab! You don't think he can swim!" I laughed but the vest didn't come off :)

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

That was terrifying for you and it's something that scares the you know what out of me! We walk by a river too and somtimes it is very high and fast. I am too frightened to even walk by it on days like those even though both boys are leashed...your experience as you tell it confirms my fears. You were so lucky on all counts ;)