Kayakers Rescue Exhausted Dog Drowning in Belgian River

A heartwarming rescue unfolded on the IJzer river near Roesbrugge when kayakers Merlijn and his godchild Dane encountered a distressed dog. The pair were on a leisurely kayaking trip when they spotted the small Jack Russell terrier struggling amidst the riverbank's vegetation.

"The dog was soaking wet and must have been on the bank for a long time," Merlijn recounted. "The animal apparently couldn't get onto dry land on its own, as digging marks were visible." Recognizing the dog's plight, they decided to bring it into their kayak.

However, the ordeal was far from over. Shortly after, the dog suddenly jumped back into the water. "He was literally drowning because he had no strength left to swim," Merlijn explained. They managed to pull the exhausted animal out again and paddled to a nearby pier.

“

Hij was letterlijk aan het verdrinken, want hij had geen kracht meer om te zwemmen.

Upon reaching the pier, the dog was so weak that it collapsed after a few steps. Emergency services were called, and the dog was wrapped in blankets by bystanders and firefighters. It was then transported to the Poezewoef animal shelter in Poperinge.

At the shelter, the dog continues to battle hypothermia and fever. "We are keeping a close eye on everything," said Darcy Pynaert of Poezewoef. The dog is microchipped, but the chip is not registered, prompting the shelter to launch an appeal on social media to find its owner. "We are diligently searching for its owner, but so far, no one has come forward," Pynaert noted. This lack of contact leads the shelter to suspect intentional abandonment, raising concerns about foul play.

“

Aangezien niemand zich meldde en we nog niks hoorden, lijkt het steeds meer op kwaad opzet. Mogelijk is hij opzettelijk achtergelaten.