Dog swims to shore, barks to summon help

belleville.com ^ | 5-3-2007 | staff writer

[bedolido]

CARMEL, N.Y. --A 72-year-old man feared for his life after his dog overturned his small boat - but the springer spaniel made up for it by swimming 400 yards to shore to fetch help.

Al Lotrecchiano was fishing on Lake Gilead on Wednesday and had just caught what he said was the largest bass in his life. As he was throwing the fish back in the water, the dog put its paw on the side of the boat, flipping it over.

"My life flashed before me," Lotrecchiano recalled Thursday.

Lotrecchiano started swimming to shore but, figuring he'd never make it, quickly returned to his boat and clung to the side. Bucky swam to shore and ran home barking, Carmel Fire Chief Darryl Johnson said.

Lotrecchiano's wife, Dimmy, heard the barking and stepped outside their lake shore home to see what was happening. She then heard her husband's screams for help.

At about the same time, a neighbor called 911 to report a man calling for help from the lake, said Carmel police Lt. Brian Karst.

Lotrecchiano was rescued after about 45 minutes in the water. He was treated for hypothermia at a hospital.

"Thank God the dog did what the dog did," Lotrecchiano said.

[bedolido]

kinda reminds me of Toonces the cat from SNL days.

[wideawake]

Al Lotrecchiano was fishing on Lake Gilead on Wednesday and had just caught what he said was the largest bass in his life.

This is the most elaborate ruse I've ever seen anyone use to prop up a big fish story.

[bedolido]

Did I mention... the dog called 911? No? Good, didn’t happen.

[Slings and Arrows]

Good dog!

[windcliff]

I think I saw that in a Lassie episode.

[Sue Perkick]

“Look! She’s trying to tell us something! What is it girl?”

[Daffynition]

Good thing Bucky wasn't a cat ... he would have brought in the oar, dried off and gone to sleep for a week.

[HairOfTheDog]

Errr.... Good dog.... Bad dog.... Good dog again!

Ping!

Other articles with keyword "DOGGIEPING" since 12/29/04

[Lokibob]

What is that you say, Lassie, Timmys in the well??? Again!!!!

[Pinkbell]

I’m amazed at their sense of danger and drive to protect their humans. There have been countless other stories, and this is another good one. It’s great the man and dog are both alright.

[ErnBatavia]

Hair - would you ping (if needed) your doggie list? We have friends who are wigged out about a looming drive from California to Texas. They're being "told" by their vet that they need a Health Certificate for each of the three pups (at $60 per) to carry them interstate.

Personally, I've never heard such BS - but in this day and age, anything is possible...would appreciate a ping back if anybody has info about this....

Thanks!!

[HairOfTheDog]

See post above ^^^^

[Rodney King]

That’s a load. Don’t worry about it.

[RosieCotton]

Ookay...that’s a new one on me.

I think you *do* need one if travel crosses through Canada, but that obviously isn’t the case here.

I traveled from Vermont to Colorado and then from Colorado to Washington in the last couple of years with two cats on board, and talked to my vet before doing at least the first leg. I did update their shots and make sure I had those certificates, but that was more because I was moving into an apartment than for travel reasons.

[Silly]

"My life flashed before me," Lotrecchiano recalled Thursday.

And it was wearing a trenchcoat and no underwear.

[Jet Jaguar]

Outstanding picture!

[RosieCotton]

Heh...now that I think about it, by that logic, I (and about a zillion other Vermonters) broke the law all the time when I took my dogs with me when shopping in NH. Or vice versa.

It sounds pretty silly to me.

[ErnBatavia]

Thanks! This sort of thing is one of the great side benefits of Free Republic...there’s a ping list for any and everything that might pop up.

[sweetiepiezer]

Great story, thanks.

[sweetiepiezer]

Thanks for the ping, enjoyes it.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

I have not heard of such BS either. Last year, I transported my 2 Dalmatians through three state changes (Washington to Oregon to Idaho to Utah to Nevada, and never heard of such a thing. After moving here (to Las Vegas) there has never ever been anything said to me by my Vet here about the need for any kind of certificate...nor by the government here (and I know the dern Mayor here!)

[Kimmers]

As his life flashed before he suddenly thought “Hey, there really is a dog.”

[kanawa]

FWIW...

Entry Requirements

• If your destination is across state lines, nearly every state has laws on the entry of animals, with the exception of tropical fish. For information, call or write to the State Veterinarian, State Department of Animal Husbandry, or other appropriate authority.

• Interstate health certificates must accompany dogs and horses entering nearly all states. About half have the same requirements for other pets. In some cases, this certificate must be in the hands of the state regulatory agency in advance of the entry.

• All but four states require an up-to-date rabies inoculation for dogs and many require it for cats. The rabies tag must be securely attached to the pet's collar. Hawaii requires that cats and dogs be quarantined for 120 days.

• Some pets must have an entry permit issued by the destination state's regulatory agency. Receipt of the interstate health certificate may be required before the permit can be issued. Some states limit the time during which the entry permit is valid.

• A few states have border inspections of all animals being transported; others have random inspection by highway patrol officers. State agriculture representatives are usually present at airports to inspect pets arriving by air.

http://seniors-site.com/travel/pets.html

[kanawa]

Interstate transport of dogs

Rabies vaccination is required for dogs by all states.

Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (abbreviated CVI, sometimes incorrectly called a ´health certificate´)  is required by all states, except California and Texas.  Louisiana, Montana requires CVI only if there is a change in owner.  North Dakota no CVI required when in state for less then 7 days.