Bryant Fritz, a middle school science teacher at Next Generation School in Champaign, had an unexpected surprise during his fishing trip in early November. Little did he know that his most significant catch of the day would not be a fish, but rather a dog. While preparing to fish on a Saturday, Bryant stumbled upon Dory, a black and white female puppy, who was submerged in the rising water and trapped inside a dog crate at Kaufman Lake.
Version 1: Upon spotting the dog trapped in a crate discarded in Kaufman Lake in Champaign, Illinois, Fritz, a lifelong dog lover, immediately knew what he had to do. Despite the freezing water, he courageously shed a few layers of clothing and ventured into the frigid depths to rescue the dog. Recounting the incident, Fritz stated, “It was around 3 pm when I noticed the dog in the lake. A portion of the crate was visible above the water, with only the puppy’s head remaining above the surface. However, the rest of her body was submerged.” Without any hesitation, Fritz made the unwavering decision to wade into the lake and save the dog.
He stated that it was a chilly and wintry day. I removed a couple of layers of sweaters and immediately ventured into the water to reach the crate. I estimate that I waded a distance of approximately 15 to 20 yards into the lake before finally reaching the puppy. It was evident that the dog had been in the cold water for several hours. Without hesitation, I pulled her out of the water and dragged the crate to the shore. However, it was at that moment when I realized that the dog had additional medical issues. Upon bringing her to the shore, there was blood scattered all around. She had lost a significant amount of fur on her backside, and her paws were in a severely damaged condition. She likely weighed around 15 to 20 pounds, clearly a young puppy. She trembled uncontrollably, her eyes tightly shut. She was in a state of utter misery.
Fritz promptly contacted the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital to notify them that he would be bringing in a dog in urgent need of treatment for hypothermia, visible wounds, and potentially more. En route, he made a stop at his residence to wrap the puppy in a blanket ‘to get her as warm as possible.’ Chris Beuoy, a spokeswoman for the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, mentioned that the puppy has been responding positively to treatment for hypothermia. The hospital’s staff also attended to the wounds, administered antibiotics, and provided pain medication. Beuoy stated: “We were uncertain if the dog would require further care for her wounds, but she did receive additional treatment for them on Sunday.”
After the Champaign County Animal Control takes possession of the dog, Fritz is hopeful that he will have the opportunity to adopt her and provide a caring home. He mentioned, “While completing the necessary paperwork upon bringing her to the facility, I came to the realization that I truly wanted this dog to become a part of my life. My girlfriend Krystal and I agreed that if everything goes smoothly, we would name her Dory, inspired by the Disney character portrayed by Ellen DeGeneres in Finding Nemo. Just like Dory, ‘she didn’t give up in that water.'”
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