Ruff seas: New York puppy escapes owner, swims across Hudson to New Jersey
Brady Knox
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A New York City puppy went on a multiday adventure after he escaped his owner and swam across the Hudson River to New Jersey, being rescued several days later.
Bear, a six-month-old Leonberger-Bernese mountain mix, was out for a walk in Manhattan on Saturday when his owner, Ellen Wolpin, pulled on his leash to get him away from traffic, Fox 5 News reported.
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The intrepid dog, adopted only a few days before, was able to slip out of his collar after the pull, at which point he made a mad dash for freedom. Avoiding bystanders aiming to grab him, Bear eventually made it to the Hudson River, where he took the plunge and swam a full mile all the way to New Jersey. Leonbergers are natural swimmers.
Bear was on the run for several days, with his whereabouts unknown. His next known sighting was early Tuesday morning, when a concerned citizen called the Edgewater Police Department shortly after midnight, informing them of a howling dog. The officers found Bear stuck under the pier of the Independence Harbor and Hudson River Walkway, they told the outlet.
A rescue operation involving several police officers, firefighters, and even a firefighter naval vessel commenced. Bear hopped from one concrete pylon to another until the rescuers were able to coax the scared puppy toward their boat, and one was able to grab him.
Edgewater Fire Company #1 announced their remarkable rescue in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“Feel good story alert!! Early this morning we were able to rescue this little guy from under the pier at Independence Harbor!!,” the post read.
Firefighter Tom Quinton, who grabbed the pup, told WISN News of the rescue.
“The two guys in the water just stayed behind him so he would come toward the boat, and he sat there [and] waited patiently. I grabbed him by the back of the head and put him in the back of the boat,” he said. “It makes you feel good, especially when we went back a second time to look for him; it does make you feel good.”
The firefighters fed and took the dog to an animal hospital to be checked out, then finally reunited him with his astonished owner.
“I thought he was gone for good, we were so upset, devastated this weekend, we didn’t know what to do,” Wolpin told the outlet.
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Wolpin had gotten Bear as a special service dog for her son, who has special needs. Reunited, the family is reportedly in good spirits.
“He’s given us a lifetime of happiness with this, I say the dog is a fighter and so is my son, so they’re a great combination,” Wolpin added. “He’s doing great, you would never know that he had this adventure — he’s fantastic.”