Sometimes when you're fishing, strange things happen...like, dogs swim up to you

UPDATE: the mystery is solved. However, it's very sad and unfortunate:

http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_sarasota_manatee/53-year-old-jog...

The accident scene was about a mile from where I found Barney swimming. Our guess is that he was so freaked out and traumatized that he just wanted to get as far away from there as possible. And when he ran out of land, he took to the water. Another credible hypothesis is that he swam towards the kayak because the Chens are avid kayakers, and actually have two yellow ones.

Whatever the case, I feel lucky that I was there fishing, because there was no place for him to go and I don't know if he could have made it much farther. He's banged up, but mostly fine. Our hearts go out to the Chen family, who lost their mother.

UPDATE 2: Many people have asked what they can do in light of this terrible tragedy. I have been in touch with the Chen family. They suggested (and I wholeheartedly second) that you make a donation to Mothers Against Drunk Driving in the name of "Donna and Barney Chen" to help prevent this from happening again. Here's the link:
http://www.madd.org/donate/

NOTES:
* Yes, Barney is back with his family. I imagine they need him pretty bad right now. Dr. Chen reports that after the accident, Barney was suffering from what he thinks is something akin to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He was uncharacteristically lethargic, and they have even had to carry him outside. He seems to be pulling out of it a bit though.
* Why is there a camera running? I usually keep a camera running when I fish, in case I catch the big one. It does happen, occasionally (see other videos in my profile if you are interested)
* The kayak is a Hobie Adventure. It is a kayak made specifically for fishing. When turned down, the side floats allow me to stand up and fish.
* My brother got my mom some shamwows a couple years back as a gag gift. As corny as they are, they actually are pretty nice for fishing

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Viszla
• dog
• rescue
• Beach
• Sarasota
• Florida
• Fishing
• kayak
• barney
• point of rocks

[speakerdamage736]

I hope ShamWOW see's this story and sends you a lifetime supply.

[Graumpus]

Great Job Man <3

[speedy02]

Its a Vizsla. You can tell it was in shock! Its owner got hit by a car and killed.

[Negropolis]

Reminds me of the time I found this small dog ditched in a river, me and a friend had to get it out and we just gave it to the nearby houseowners who took it in (we were only around 10 yrs old at the time and didn't know what to do with it)

[raktin]

thank you for saving his life.

[alexanderchavezrt]

Your're a good man for taking care of that poor dog like you did ! I'm an animal lover, dog lover especially, & I would've done the same to make sure he was ok. If I can ask, what was the accident, I'm assuming it was a boating accident & he got knocked overboard?

[TheManolakis]

good karma brother, i hope it comes back to you soon and three fold!

[offwithurhead]

@telemetry9 Humans are very curious and feel the need to know everything. When they didn't know it they made it up to comfort themselves, now we have a lot more knowledge.

The native Americans believed in gods, they sacrificed innocent people for them.

If you wish to continue this conversation(respectfully of course) you could message me personally, I wouldn't want to debate in this comment section. I'm actually curious as to why people believe in gods.

[telemetry9]

Native peoples have faith in God and in a higher power. It is a part of being human - just as longing for food or wanting to have children. All those things are real and palpable. They are the missing parts of a jigsaw that we can fill in if we choose. The God shaped missing piece is the largest and most important.

If you deny that you deny a part of yourself and lose a part of your humanity. But that is your choice - you get to choose.

God is love.

life is authentic!!!

[offwithurhead]

@telemetry9 And just while you were writing that, "god" watched roadkill happen.

I don't wish to attack anyone's religion but I feel like he deserves the credit for his actions not any deity.

And I'm confused as to what you mean by "angry at god". I'm just as angry at any gods as I am at pixies, trolls or witches. I can't be angry at what I don't believe to be existent.

I think life is beautiful, but I don't see anything supernatural around, I see people doing good and bad things.

[telemetry9]

"religion is for people who are afraid to go to hell - spirituality is for those who have already been there."

I believe that man was there at the right time. If you ask him; he might say the same thing.

Whatever your belief - he did save the dog from dying of hypothermia.

I think what is troubling for people angry at God - is that so many of these events happen.  Without religion and just in daily life.

Everything happens for a reason. That reason is God's love.

[SHFINGA]

Are you using a gopro.