The other day, Bryn Crowell and few friends were enjoying a day on a boat off the coast of Florida when something in the water caught her eye. Crowell assumed someone aboard had lost their hat as the boat driver slowed and circled back.
Crowell told The Dodo, “My first thought was, ‘Woah, that hat looks like a dog.'” “After another second, I realized it WAS a dog!”
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How the dog had gotten there, far from shore, was anyone’s guess. But, without hesitation, one of Crowell’s friends jumped in to save the frightened puppy.
Here’s that moment on video:
@bryncrowell just florida things #dogsaved #boating #florida ♬ original sound – bryncrowell
The little dog was shaken, but he was lucky to be alive.
Crowell said, “You could tell he just had the swim of his life.”
Luckily, the dog, Zuko, was wearing a collar with his owner’s contact information on it.
“We called and could hear them crying and upset on the phone,” Crowell explained.
Zuko’s owners were also out on a boat that day. Their dog had somehow managed to fall overboard without them noticing in time. Zuko’s life had been saved thanks to Crowell and her friends.
“When we returned Zuko, we saw [his owners] crying and holding him close,” Crowell said.
The owners later messaged to express their gratitude and to describe their panic when they realized Zuko was missing:
Zuko’s owners also sent a photo of a new purchase they’d made which will help to ensure Zuko’s safety while out on the water going forward.
What could have been a tragic ending for the little dog turned out to be a happy ending. Crowell and her friends are simply grateful that they were able to assist Zuko when he needed it the most.
“I’ve spent my entire life on boats and in the ocean and I’ve never seen anything like it,” Crowell said.
