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Video of Man Rescuing a Dog From Freezing River Goes Viral
The heroic act of a man rescuing a dog from a freezing river in Vermont has quickly spread online, earning praise and gratitude from people across the globe. Many called him a true hero, and the emotional rescue deeply moved animal lovers.
When Chris MacRitchie saw a dog struggling to stay above water in an icy Vermont river, he acted immediately.
Without hesitation, he plunged into the freezing water and carefully brought the dog to safety. Once ashore, his wife covered the shivering animal with a sweatshirt. The rescue, which took place on January 10 in Berlin, was recorded by his son and quickly gained attention online.
The ordeal began when MacRitchie’s son spotted the dog while they were in a Dunkin Donuts drive-thru. Moments later, the family stopped near the Winooski River, and MacRitchie decided he couldn’t leave the animal behind.
“It was one of those moments where you just have to make a choice,” MacRitchie said. “I have two dogs of my own, and I’d hope someone would step up for them if they were ever in this situation.”
In the video, MacRitchie—dressed in a T-shirt, sweatpants, and boots—is seen approaching the riverbank as the dog struggles. He calls out to the animal while his wife encourages him to help.
He steps through the ice and into the freezing river, gasping from the cold as he moves closer to the dog stuck on the opposite side. Carefully, he lifts the dog from the water and carries it to his wife, who waits on the embankment.
“The cold wasn’t my biggest worry—it was the depth,” MacRitchie said. “When I got in and realized it was only waist-deep, I felt relieved. Sure, it was freezing, but I knew I could handle it.”
MacRitchie found the dog’s owner, Morgan Cerasoli, by calling the number on its tag.
Cerasoli had been searching for her 7-year-old dog Arizona since January 9. Arizona, a rescue originally found on the side of a road in South Carolina, had gone missing the day before. She was on her way to pick up her daughter when MacRitchie called and told her he had saved Arizona from drowning.
“I started crying and just kept saying, ‘Oh my God, I love you. Thank you so much,’” Cerasoli said, sitting beside Arizona during an interview. She added that Arizona has mostly recovered from the ordeal.
After reuniting with her beloved pet, Cerasoli watched the rescue video and broke down in tears again, moved by the sight of her pet’s struggle and MacRitchie’s courage.
“It was brave, selfless, and exactly what we should all strive to be,” she said. “Acts like this feel rare these days, but they remind us of what really matters.”
Source: The Canadian Press
