During one of my canoe trips, I came across something unexpected that I’ll never forget. As I was paddling down a remote area, I spotted a dog trapped under a log, covered in mud and looking extremely unwell. The poor pup was crying, and from the looks of it, had been there for a while. There were no signs of people around, no tracks, just this lonely dog in need of help.
At first, I wasn’t sure what was wrong, but I knew I had to do something. Gently, I freed him from the log, and he started moving, though not easily. He was clearly exhausted, weak, and unable to walk well on his own. With no other option in sight, I decided to bring him back to my canoe, hoping I could find his owner nearby. He was hesitant, but after a bit of coaxing, he lay down, and I paddled with him toward the nearest dock.
After some time, I reached a dock near a house, hoping someone there might recognize him. I was in luck! I met a couple, Tom and Janine, who immediately knew who the dog was. It turned out that this sweet pup was their 14-year-old Pyrenees, who had gone missing two days earlier. They had been searching for her everywhere but couldn’t find her. They were relieved and so grateful that I had brought her back.
The couple explained that their dog, Ivy, had trouble moving her back legs, which likely explained why she couldn’t get out of the mud on her own. She had been stuck for two days, unable to escape, and it was clear from her condition that she was exhausted and in desperate need of help. Her bark was so hoarse from calling out for so long that she had nearly lost her voice.
Tom and Janine were incredibly kind. After I helped clean Ivy up, they invited me to stay for lunch. One thing led to another, and they graciously offered me a place to spend the night. We talked over dinner about Ivy, the family’s love for their dog, and the beautiful countryside I had been paddling through. It was one of those rare moments where you feel like you’ve not only made a difference but also gained new friends.
The next morning, I said my goodbyes. Ivy seemed to be doing better—she had even made her way to her favorite spot under a truck. Tom and Janine’s son, who works with horses, was on his way to help clean and groom her, as her thick fur had become matted from the mud. Before I left, I asked them to send me photos of her once she was back to her usual self.
As I paddled away, I couldn’t help but feel grateful that I had stumbled across Ivy that day. She likely wouldn’t have survived much longer in those conditions, and I was glad to have been in the right place at the right time. It’s moments like these that make me appreciate the beauty of the journey—and the unexpected surprises that come with it.