Man jumps into freezing Kawkawlin River, saves two dogs

[The Straight Story]

UPDATE: As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, both dogs have been picked up by their owner, Bay County Animal Control confirms.

BANGOR TOWNSHIP, MI — An icy dip in the slushy Kawkawlin River could have ended a lot worse for two dogs if not for the efforts of a vigilant man.

Shortly after 3 p.m. Monday, March 11, 37-year-old Scott Garrison was working his shift as a bartender at Castaways, 3940 Boy Scout Road in Bangor Township, when a coworker noticed two wayward dogs, a white Malamute and a tan pit bull mix, walking on the frozen river.

“We were inside working and one of the girls I work with noticed a couple of dogs out roaming around on the river,” Garrison said. “All of the sudden, she said, ‘Oh my God, one fell in.’ Basically, I just ran out the door and ran down to the bridge there that goes over the river. By the time I was just getting to the other side of the river, both dogs were in the water. They were kind of bobbing up and down and struggling, so I just jumped in.”

http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2013/03/bay_county_man_jumps_into_free.html#incart_river_default#incart_2box

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I did that in 1987. Two of my own young Samoyeds fell into a frozen lake. I

went after them. Unfortunately, I was only able to rescue one. I think the other was pushed beneath the ice when I went through it. I couldn't find him.

[Voice for Peace]

7. heartbreaking for you, I am sorry

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Thank you. It was a long time ago, but I know I'd do the same again.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. I guess you could call this guy "dogs best friend".

[Jenoch]

3. Every couple of years in Minnesota

there is a news story describing how a dog broke through the ice, the dog's owner drowns in a rescue attempt, and the dog makes it safely back to shore on its own.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. My story took place in Minnesota. And I did almost drown due to the shaking

and shock to the body of ice water.

[Jenoch]

6. I don't have a dog

so I don't know how I would react in that situation. I would hope there would be a better alternative than just jumping in. While the guy who is the subject of this story is being praised for his actions, it wasn't a smart thing to do.

[Voice for Peace]

8. maybe he downed a few shots from the bar before jumping in..

which would have been a sensible thing

[shanti]

10. Same thing

with the rogue waves here in Nor Cal. There have been several incidents where people went in the ocean after their dogs got caught in the wave. The dogs made it back, but the humans didn't.

[TeamPooka]

5. Hero. Good job. Thank you on behalf of the dogs.