We write about a lot of tragic stories involving kids, but here's a sweet story to balance out the bitter. A family dog in Indiana rescued a 14-month-old boy who fell into a swimming pool. Aww, right? I love that! Disaster averted thanks to Bear, the black Labrador.
Patricia Drauch says she was walking with little son, Stanley, to the garage. And, being a toddler, of course he wandered off. She noticed he wasn't with her and found him face-up in their swimming pool. On Bear's back! He had jumped in to keep the boy from drowning.
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Isn't it amazing that Bear recognized Stanley was in danger and knew just what to do? If you've ever had a pet, you know that animals can be closely attuned to your family's emotions and needs. The Drauch family is so lucky Bear was around when Stanley fell into the water. Somehow he knew Stanley wasn't jumping in for fun -- it was an accident, and Stanley could have died. (And what the hell -- shouldn't they have a toddler-proof barrier around that pool?!?)
Anyway, Stanley is doing just fine. He was unconscious and was rushed to the hospital. but he's recovering. Patricia says, "There's no water in his lungs, so we all believe if it wasn't for Bear holding him up out of the water, he would have sunk down."
Gah! Good for them. Stanely owes his life to Bear and they will share a special bond for the rest of Bear's life. And hopefully Patricia will put something up around that swimming pool. You know how toddlers are.
Do you think your family pet would help protect your children?
Image via DrStarbuck/Flickr
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Comments 25
No chance. I have cats.
I am way too paranoid to have a pool with small kids. Hopefully this mom takes this accident as a wake-up call and institutes the appropriate safety precautions that are necessary when you have a pool around small kids.
That's a great ending to a potentially heartbreaking story. However, I hate how so many articles jump right onto the "What were those irresponsible parents thinking, why wasn't there a baby proof 'whatever' there to prevent this?" We haven't seen pictures of the pool so how do we know what was in place? And seriously, what in this world is actually "toddler-proof"? I have a cousin who got out of bed during the night, pulled out all the drawers in the kitchen, climbed onto the counter and then the microwave, opened a cupboard and ate a box of individually wrapped adult decongestants, bypassing several boxes of cookies and treats along the way. My aunt and uncle are not bad parents...sometimes horrible, freak accidents just happen. I'm just glad this story had a happy ending and the kid was okay. Someone give that dog a biscuit.
Accidents with pools happen and I agree with Moma Llama. For my family the biggest danger alwasy can when we had guests over because they tend not to be as mindful of safety as people who live with a pool. Generally, when accidents happen it's because a safety device was left unengaged (I would bet in this case that the pool was easier to access from the garage then then either the garage or pool would be from the house. I can see that being an easy thing to miss since children are generally locked out of most garages for safety reasons. I don't know it's just something I can see happening very easily.) Also, your neighbors pool is more dangerous to your child then any pool you will ever own. When you own a pool it doesn't matter how many safety features you have the first place you always look, which means you're more likely to find a child before any harm has been done. I know growing up with a pool if my dad heard a neighbor was looking for their child (or dog) he always check our pool even if he had no reason to think they would ever be there.
how did this mother not realize that her 14 month old child wasn't with her?
I'm so glad to hear that this story had a happy ending. It could have been another sad fatality of a little one. Sure, the mom "Shoulda, coulda, and woulda" had a fence, or something better in place... but the honest truth is- we ALL have had a moment where we had the poo scared out of us by our kids. Maybe a fall, or they "just got away for one second", grabbed a pot on the stove that we forgot just that one time to turn the handle in.... this list is endless. Yes, obviously drowning would be the worse case scenario, but we should thank God that in this case the little one WAS saved---by an incredible dog might I add. My prayers and thoughts go to this mom. She certainly does not need to be criticized any further---as I am sure she will live with horrific anxiety and guilt over this event for a very long time. This is not something one just blows off and says, "owell- all's well that ends well." Perhaps she will now be even MORE aware of pool safety!! God bless!
dogs rock, and I miss my Dixie... a beautiful, registered black lab we lost 6 years ago to kidney failure. DH says I can't have one since we already have 3 dogs who are totally devoted to the grandkids, but we'll see...