While canoeing across Canada, an adventurer happened to be in the right place at the right time to pull off a miraculous rescue. This is the story of Ivy, a senior dog who had nearly given up hope until a stranger paddled into her life.
A Desperate Cry from the Mud
As the traveler was paddling along the river, he heard a faint, raspy barking. It sounded like a dog that had lost its voice from barking for far too long. Investigating the sound, he discovered a large dog trapped in a nightmare scenario: she was stuck in deep mud, half-submerged in water, with a heavy log pinned across her back.
The dog, later identified as Ivy, was covered in thick mud and appeared completely drained of energy. The rescuer managed to lift the log, heave her out of the muck, and carefully balance her on his canoe—a frightening but necessary first-time experience for the old dog.
A Heartfelt Reunion
The rescuer paddled about 200 meters to the nearest dock, hoping to find her owners. To everyone’s relief, he pulled up to the home of Tom and Janine, who had been searching frantically for Ivy for two days.
Ivy is a 14-year-old Great Pyrenees. Given her age and the fact that she could no longer move her back legs well, her owners feared the worst. Her rescuer noted that in the state she was in, she likely wouldn’t have survived another day in the elements.
(Illustrative Image: Cleaning Ivy’s thick coat was a major task after her ordeal.)
Canadian Hospitality and a Happy Ending
After Ivy was safely home and washed clean of the mud, Tom and Janine showed immense gratitude to the man who saved her. They invited him for lunch and, in a display of classic Canadian kindness, insisted he stay the night before continuing his long journey across the country.
By the next morning, Ivy was moving around more and had reclaimed her favorite resting spot under the family truck. Because her thick fur was so badly matted with mud, the family’s son—who works with horses—planned to use professional shears to return her coat to its former glory.
A Reminder to Keep Looking
Ivy’s story is a beautiful reminder of the impact a single person can have. Had the paddler not investigated that raspy bark, a beloved family member of 14 years would have been lost. Instead, a life was saved, and a new friendship was formed between strangers on the river.