North Carolina Woman Dives Into Freezing River To Rescue Drowning Dog

Author Phil Harris

February 2nd, 2023 11:29 AM

(Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

A miniature poodle that fell into a freezing North Carolina river on January 9th was saved by a kind stranger who didn’t hesitate to help. Inside Edition reports that the tiny dog had somehow slipped into the French Broad River in Asheville and was struggling to stay afloat in the “turbulent currents.”

Two women saw the dog in danger and immediately called Asheville Animal Services. Fearing the pooch wouldn’t survive if they waited for authorities, one of the women dove in to rescue the dog herself. In doing so, she saved the miniature poodle’s life.

“It had stormed the previous day, so the river level was high with powerful currents. The water was freezing,” explained Asheville Animal Control Officer Becky Doty, who had responded to the scene. “He was very lucky.” Doty and animal shelter volunteers said the pup was doing well, all thanks to the anonymous woman they’re calling a hero.

After a full medical evaluation, the animal shelter staff gave the lucky dog a clean bill of health, named him Riu, and placed him with a foster home. But the story doesn’t end there. According to Facebook posts from the Asheville Humane Society, Riu’s real name is Benzo. That was discovered when the little guy was finally reunited with his family.

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Phil Harris is 50% of "Phil & Mel in the Afternoon" on K104.7. He has been with the station since 2013 and on the air in Charlotte since 2000. Before coming to the Queen City, Phil worked for radio stations in Pittsburgh, Austin, and Seattle. In addition to the weekly "Throwback Threesome" music video feature, Phil writes about things that matter to Charlotte sports fans and pet owners. He happens to be both.

Best Places To Vacation With Pets In North Carolina And South Carolina

My dog, Daisy, is such a big part of our family that it’s hard to board her when we travel. Don’t get me wrong, that place is great, but we’d prefer to have Daisy with us. But that’s not always possible, since not all vacation destinations are pet friendly.

Motel 6, the hotel chain where pets always stay free, has come out with their list of the Top Pet Friendly Road Trip Destinations. They judged locations on things like access to dog parks, green spaces and hiking trails, plus proximity to pet stores and veterinarians, dog-friendly restaurants, patios in the area, and more.

Topping the list is Santa Monica, California, thanks to its hundreds of nearby hiking and walking trails, plus plenty of dining with open air patios that let folks bring their pets. However, you don’t have to travel that far to find other pet friendly spots. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina also rank in the top ten.