Many dog owners would do anything if they saw that their pets’ lives were in danger. This will include putting their own well-being on the line. While some may say that waiting for professionals is the more prudent option to take, most people would’ve done what Suzanne Forman did when she realized that her precious Goldendoodle, Sienna, was being swept away.
The Massachusetts resident didn’t hesitate to jump in a fast-flowing river to get the 14-year-old dog. But she couldn’t get her pet and herself out of the treacherous waters in the end.
After the storm
Suzanne hired a dog walker to take Sienna for a morning stroll. As always, they passed by the side of Mill River. The dog went near the water to get a drink, but tragedy soon happened. The river’s water level was rising at that time, and a strong current was flowing through it. A storm had just passed, and this caused the river to swell.
Sienna was pulled in and was slowly getting swept away. The senior dog tried to swim to the river banks, but the flow was too fast. The dog walker started to panic and called Suzanne. Upon hearing what happened to her pet, she, along with a friend, rushed to the river.
As soon as Suzanne got there, she dove inside the waters. She swam towards her dog and got him. But with the added weight and resistance, she got trapped as well. Both of them were swept downstream, but luckily, she got hold of a branch.
In the meantime, her friend called for emergency responders.
Out of the waters
Members of the Northampton Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, and Northampton Fire Rescue arrived shortly after. Using ropes, rescuers dove in and slowly pulled Suzanne and her dog out of the river. Thankfully, both of them were okay.
The rescue mission became viral, and Suzanne made sure to show her gratefulness to the rescuers. But, many people criticized the dog owner for jumping in after her pet. Some say that she made the situation more dangerous.
It’s difficult to say what we would have done if we were in the exact situation. But for sure, we wouldn’t just stand by watching our family members get washed away before our eyes.
Source: iheartdogs.com
