The Rutens were devastated when they woke up one morning to find their elder Bernese Mountain Dog, Walter, had passed away in his sleep. The beloved dog had been suffering from cancer.
But the couple almost lost two dogs in one day. After the grim discovery, Susie Ruten called for her 10-month-old puppy, Waldo. While he is normally quick to respond, this time he didn't come to her.
After a few minutes, she grew worried and checked for him outside. That's when she saw it: there he was, in the middle of the icy river, struggling to stay afloat.
Susie immediately called 911, and authorities quickly arrived on the scene. So did friend and neighbor Terry Collins Jr. With no hesitation, he jumped onto the ice with some lumber to disperse his weight.
He got within 10 feet of the dog, then reached out to grab his paws and lifted him out of the water. Thanks to Terry, the Rutens still have their puppy, and they're calling him a hero!
Terry insists that it was his mere instinct that drew him to the edge. Either way, Waldo is now recovering from hypothermia after spending 20 minutes in the freezing water, but he's already back to his old, energetic self.
Please SHARE if this puppy's survival made your heart happy, as this couple doesn't have to go through another tragedy!
