North Carolina Women Rescue Dog Struggling to Stay Afloat After Falling into River

A woman and her friend saved a small dog from North Carolina’s French Broad River after the pup had fallen in and was struggling to stay afloat.

According to the Asheville Humane Society, the woman and her friend were walking when they spotted a small dog run past them. They then watched as he tumbled into the river, terrified. The poor miniature poodle mix was quickly swept under the current and the women jumped immediately to call Asheville Animal Services for help.

However, within minutes, the pup began to go underwater and was not able to hold himself afloat. One of the women heroically dove into the river to pull him out.

“It had stormed the previous day, so the river level was high with powerful currents. The water was freezing,” said Asheville Animal Control Officer Becky Doty. “He was very lucky that the two women were there. They are heroes,” she said. Officer Doty arrived on the scene shortly after the dog was rescued.

The pup was brought back to Asheville Humane where he received a full medical evaluation and was luckily not hurt in the incident. He was then moved to a foster home.

After many news outlets picked up the story, the dog’s owner was located and had been searching for the pup, whose name was Benzo. He was finally reunited with his pup.

“He is now safe and sound with a new microchip to prevent any more misadventures,” wrote the Asheville Humane Society in a Facebook post on Friday.

“Microchips are your pet’s return address!” the shelter added, encouraging followers to get their pets microchipped to increase the chance of reunification.

We are so happy this pooch was reunited with his human! Please consider microchipping your furry friend!

We encourage everyone thinking of getting a pet to only adopt instead of shopping. Read more resources about adopting animals on One Green Planet, including 7 Reasons to Adopt Your Next Furry Best Friend, 5 Reasons Why Everyone Should Adopt a Pet, and These Heartwarming Before and After Pictures of Adopted Rescue Animals Will Make Your Day! Read tips for pet adoptions and what to consider before adopting an animal. We recommend using these apps to find shelter dogs near you!

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