Call it destiny the day Tom Hudson paddled through the town of The Pas on the Saskatchewan River, some 8,000 miles from his home in New Zealand. Hudson was two months into his solo canoe trip across Canada and leaving The Pas when he heard a dog bark. Something of about the barking gave Hudson pause. He turned his canoe around to investigate and soon the canoeist would rescue the dog from the river.
Man on solo canoe trip across Canada rescues dog from river
Hudson found the dog, which he later learned was a 14-year-old Great Pyrenees named Ivy, along the river bank. Ivy was half submerged under the water, with her rear stuck beneath a log. Hudson was able to free the dog from beneath the log, but she had no strength in her legs.
“She obviously hadn’t been able to rest or sleep, because obviously if she did, her head would have dropped under the water,” Hudson told the CBC. “She was just there in the water, awake and exhausted.”
Ivy wan’t able to move under her own strength. Seeing this, Hudson picked the dog up and loaded her into his canoe. He then looked for the closest home he could find and brought Ivy to the dock. It happened to be Ivy’s home and they had been looking for her for days. Hudson stuck around for a while and recorded Ivy’s reunion with her home as they cared her back to health.
As for Hudson, he’ll continue documenting his canoe trip across Canada. His goal was to reach Montreal this year, however he now expects with the changing seasons it will take him a second year to complete the trip. While the man from New Zealand has attested he has no prior canoe experience, he’ll likely have a new outpouring of fans after empathetically pausing his journey to rescue the dog named Ivy.
Feature image: Tom Hudson/CBC
Your stories about the dog rescue and the fake life jackets are two of the best I have ever seen in your magazine.
My son and his family have a Great Pyrenees (a loyal and friendly dog) and having known the hearbreak of having a pet dog die connected deeply with me.
I hope the paddler who performed the rescue finds the value in canoeing lessons and acquires all the information he needs about canoes and gear for the challenging trip he hopes to finish.
The story about the “fake” life jackets is one every parent should know about. These items are still being sold at Amazon and elsewhere. Your average parent is not likely to know the difference between these swimming aids and Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices. In my opinion, the swimming aids should be pulled from the market or, at the very least, they should be advertised with a clear prominent warning about their limitations. It is quite likely that they will be used by the children of those out for a recreational boat ride who will not uderstand that in an accident their beloved child can be gone quickly and forever. Even a clear warning is inadequate as when the time comes for that fun family outing a parent is likely to grab something that looks like a legitimate, certified life jacket.