Recently, there was a very disturbing news article about a man who brought his dog to a beach in California. Their day ended tragically, and it really drives home why your dog needs a life jacket whenever they will be near water. Whether you take your dog on a boat, to the beach, lake, or swimming pool, a life jacket is an important safety tool for dogs.
 |
| My dog Icy in her Outward Hound life jacket |
The tragic incident I'm talking about occurred at San Francisco's Ocean Beach, one of California's most treacherous beaches.
A 59 year old man took his dog to Ocean Beach, and the dog went into the water, and was not wearing a life jacket. At some point, for some reason the man thought his dog was in distress in the ocean. He bounded into the water, fully clothed, apparently to rescue his dog.
While in the water, the man suddenly collapsed, for unknown reasons. Two women were able to pull him of the water and call 911. The man received CPR from First Responders, and shortly after San Francisco Emergency Responders transported him to the hospital in critical condition. Sadly, he did not survive.
His dog eventually made it out of the water by himself uninjured. If his dog was wearing a life jacket, perhaps the man would never have ventured into the water and might have survived. Who knows what the condition of this man's health was, but I can't help thinking that even if his collapse was eminent it may have happened under different conditions, in a place where emergency medical help could have saved him.
People assume that every dog is a born swimmer, but that is not the case. Thousands of dogs drown every year. With an unexpected twist, in this particular incident it was the owner that died because he believed his dog was in distress and tried to save him.
 |
| Me and Icy at a local beach park |
There are many reasons why dogs drown, but one of them is exhaustion. They're trying to swim to safety, they tire out and just can't swim anymore. A life jacket can keep your dog safe in the water and could save your dog from drowning.
A life jacket for dogs is not about fashion, it's about dog safety. As this tragic story shows, if could even be about safety for the owner as well as the dog! Friends please, if your dog will be around water, have a life jacket for them and stay safe!
📢 ***********************************************
 |
| Bags from my ETSY store, Nature and Critters |
***********************************************
Sharing is Caring! If you enjoyed this post, it would mean a lot to me if you shared it on your social media! ❤️
Follow me on Facebook and Pinterest!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like:
Safety Tips for Taking Your Dog to the Beach
4 comments:
Cathy, this is such a critical article. You're right people underestimate their dogs around water. I say, treat your dog and pets like you would a human infant around water. Never turn your back and use all the precautions available, such as a life vest. I just saw someone post on Bluesky this week, that one of their friends had left the day before on vacation. The pet sitter showed up at the house, let the dog into the backyard while she tended to what was needed in the house, and went back to the yard a few minutes later. It was too late. The dog had fallen into the pool and drowned. Hindsight, like the man in SF and this pet sitter is always 20/20. I wish that vision was more forward seeing than backwards in regret. Excellent article, Cathy! I LOVE the photos of sweet, Icy! I miss seeing her each week in your articles. I'm sharing this with all my pet parents and hoping that they get forward vision.
Oh, how tragic for that family. Breaks my heart. I SO agree with you and having our dogs in life jackets whenever in a boat or around bodies water. Especially in bodies like the ocean, where an undercurrent can easily and quickly happen, or depending on where, sharks! They have been coming in alarmingly closer to shore of late. Where I live, they have a great dog beach right on the lake, however, it is alarming how many dogs are there without a life jacket. One simple safety move could erase possible heartbreak and tragedy. Such an important post, especially now that we are entering beach season. And I so love the photos of Icy in her vest. Sharing!
Our husky took off swimming in the ocean after a bird. So glad we had her in a life jacket and on a long leash. Tragic accident with the owner in California
Ocean Beach is a fantastic Beach and they have small dog meet ups there once a month, I have not gone to one but only hear good about them. I read this tragic story and I agree every dog should have a life jacket up especially if there are rip tides. Thank you discussing this as it is not discussed enough
Post a Comment