“Having Dax back means more than they can know,” the dog’s family told a local news outlet
A relaxing visit to the lake turned into an intense day for one family in Florida.
On Sunday, Deltona, Fla. resident Leslie Acosta and her family were at a local lake when she spotted a tired-looking dog swimming alone in the middle of the lake. She told Fox 35 Orlando that she and her family immediately jumped into action to save the puppy.
“It was stimulating and exciting,” Acosta told the newspaper. “I mean, yes, we have action on Sunday. We have to do a little bit Baywatch rescue mission.”
The hero of the rescue was Irving Colon, who rowed a boat – usually used for fishing – to where the dog was swimming after efforts to retrieve the canine by canoe failed.
“I have a dog, so I definitely wouldn’t want that to happen to my dog,” Colon told Fox 35. “And if anybody saw my dog or any dog, I hope they would do the same thing.”
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A family from Florida rescued a dog from a lake.
Leslie Acosta
Acosta, Colon and their team of animal rescuers later learned that the dog’s name was Dax and that he had disappeared from his home. The five-year-old shepherd-Lab mix ran away from its owners 12 hours ago and somehow ended up in the middle of the lake. Dax’s family explained to Fox 35 that their fence broke and “Dax’s adventurous spirit got the better of him”.
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“Fortunately for our family, there were enough kind people to help him get home,” the dog’s owners added. “We are incredibly grateful to the individuals who pulled him out of the lake! Not to mention the extra time they put in to care for him afterward.”
Dax returned home unscathed, except for some soreness from his escapade at the lake. His family said Dax is in good spirits, and they are in good spirits, too, thanks to the kind actions of the dog’s rescuers.
“Having Dax back means more than I can know,” the family said. “We are blessed to be surrounded by such a phenomenal community.”
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In Troy, Michigan, another dog surprised animal lovers by showing up in a surprising place.
On Saturday, the pit bull mix Aries and her owner Melissa Fickel were involved in a minor traffic accident. Although no one was injured, and there was only minor damage to the vehicles, the accident terrified Aries. According to Fickel, the dog jumped out of the window immediately after the accident and ran away.
According to the owner of Hounds Town Metro Detroit — a Troy, Michigan, dog daycare and boarding facility that Aries frequents — the dog traveled more than a mile from the crash site to the daycare.
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Travis Ogden, the owner of the daycare, tells PEOPLE that two Hounds Town employees were in the lobby when Aries ran up and started jumping up and down on the facility’s front door.
At first Ogden thought it might be a stray dog wanting to greet him – but when he got closer, he immediately recognized Aries.
“I thought, ‘Oh, that looks like an Aries.’ And then she came closer and I said, ‘That’s Aries!'” he says.
“She’s a freaking smart and smart puppy. She just knew where her safe place was after she panicked from the car accident,” added Ogden.
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