Dogged surfers recover four-Legged friend
Two Surfers showed great skill and bravery on Sep. 11 when they rescued a beloved pet swept into Lake Michigan from a stationary pier. Matt Smolenski and Joe Riopelle witnessed a huge wave break onto the South Pier at Grand Haven, MI, knocking Joe Badgero off of his feet and carrying his medium-sized dog back into the lake.
Smolenski paddled toward the struggling dog and braced her on his surfboard. After paddling against the strong rip current for some time, Riopelle helped his friend and the dog the rest of the way. The dog, described by the Muskegon Chronicle as an “older, mixed-breed” named Shell-B, accompanied Badgero to the pier regularly and is said to enjoy barking at the waves.
Surfboard Pet Rescue. Credit: Don & Joan Dobbin.
For their heroic actions, the two sympathetic surfers received the “Compassionate Citizen Award” from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Apart from the recognition from the sometimes dubious organization, they received lots of local and international media attention and the gratitude of Shell-B’s owner.
Congratulations, Matt Smolenski and Joe Riopelle. By putting yourself in a potentially harmful situation, you helped ensure that a special relationship will go on for a little while longer! On behalf of RationReality: Cheers, dudes!
Sources: Mlive.com Eastern Michigan - Muskegon Chronicle - PeTA Media Center - Detroit Free Press
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yea!-another dog lives to surf again!
Stona Lisa
29 Sep 07 at 11:48 am
“accompanied Badgero to the pier regularly and is said to enjoy barking at the waves.”
My dog barks at the water too. I don’t think she enjoys it though. She is very protective, and seems to be trying to warn people not to get in the water. She gets especially upset when people horseplay in the water.
I’ve dragged her in to the lake with me, trying to get her to relax and go for a swim, but she just panics.
bagel of everything
30 Sep 07 at 2:42 am
Yep, they went after the wave that took somebody’s paws . . . .
Frontier Former Editor
30 Sep 07 at 9:43 am
That’s seriously awesome.
stepher
30 Sep 07 at 11:13 pm
Thanks, Stepher! I believe that if you put your ass on the line to save a dog, you’re no less a hero than if you did it for a human.
…And what ЯR post would be complete without a FFE pun. Thanks!
Soylent Ape
1 Oct 07 at 12:25 am
“you helped ensure that a special relationship will go on for a little while longer!”
Thought you could sneak that right past us, didn’t you Soy?
Bad Soy! Bad!
bagel of everything
7 Oct 07 at 4:25 pm
[...] Dogged surfers recover four-Legged friend [...]
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