We sure do miss our ole Lab who just didn't do kennels.
Posted on 11/13/2005 3:22:26 PM PST by girlangler
Thanks to his Lab, hunter avoids death By Bill Wundram
BRENT Teel was going down for the fourth time in deep water. His waders, filled with water, kept sucking him deeper into the cold Mississippi River. Wader straps were tangling around his neck. Water was up to his nose.
“I knew I was going to die. I was choking, but could yell for my dog, Junior. He had been circling me in the water. That black Lab knew that I was in big trouble. He swam to me. I grabbed onto his collar and he pulled me at least 20 yards to the bank of a sandbar — that’s 60 feet — a long way.”
Brent Teel is telling about his close call with death by drowning a weekend ago while duck hunting near his hometown of Buffalo. His voice is still hoarse from a cold, suffered from his struggle in the 45- degree water. He says:
“My dog and God saved me from dying.”
His mother, Pat Teel, speaks up, “When I saw Brent after all that, he was shaking like in a convulsion. His lips were white. He could hardly talk.”
Brent, 29, a big-time outdoorsman, set out in his boat for duck hunting with Junior. He was in a boat blind, anchored at the point of an island near Linwood, upstream from Buffalo. It was a spot where he had often hunted for ducks.
“A flock of mallards flew over and I fired. I watched one come down and walked onto a wing dam to get the duck that was floating away. After 30 yards, I slipped off that wing dam into the water. It was deep. It can be 35 feet deep in some spots. I tried to get up, but my waders kept filling with water.”
Brent kept his cool. If he could get his waders off, he’d probably be all right. He stiffly held out his 12-gauge shotgun as a prod to help, but it went straight down into the deep water. As any outdoorsman knows, waders full of water can be deadly anchors.
“I was getting weak, went down three times before finally getting out of my waders but the straps tangled around my neck. When I went down the fourth time, the water was up to my nose. I was freezing cold and drowning. I knew that I was gone, but somehow, could see Junior thrashing around me.
“I yelled and he came close enough to grab his collar. He pulled me through the water right up to land, all those 60 feet, at least. He’s a young dog but strong and weighs 75 pounds.”
Exhausted and barely able to move, Brent remembers stretching out on the island’s shore, shaking and gagging. He crawled on hands and knees to reach his boat and shakily call on his CB to his dad, Steve Teel Sr.: “Dad, I need help.”
Steve says, “He could hardly talk. We didn’t know what was going on, but moved fast to where we knew he was hunting.”
Brent’s family called the Buffalo Ambulance Service to wait on the shore. Brent and Junior were found huddled in the boat. The dog was close against him, as if to keep him warm.
We sat in the living room of the Teel home, listening to the family describe the ordeal. Brent brought Junior — a rambunctious Labrador — inside from his kennel. Brent hugged the big dog and said:
“If it wasn’t for this dog, I wouldn’t be here to talk to you.”
Bill Wundram can be contacted at (563) 383-2249 or bwundram@qctimes.com.
Good on ya. Looks like she has quite the life now!
Oh boy do I sympathise...
In Lab culture sofa's are mighty good eats.
Yeah. They got great big head, neck and jaws and can be very determined. My old (deceased) yellow killed big ol' fat groundhogs with just one bite 'n shake every time.
Man's best friend once again saves the day.
The dog saved his damn life and he doesn't even let him sleep inside?
Awe,
How sweet. The last dog I had (before my bird dog) was a silver toy poodle, a Christmas gift. She was special.
She would have attacked a dang elephant if she thought it might hurt me. She'd lick the tears off my face when I cried.
She died after being my friend for 13 years. The last few years she didn't feel good, so I did everything I could to make her comfortable. I'd take a warm wet cloth every night and clean her face and eyes. I spent lots of money on vet care and medicine to make her comfortable.
But I swear, she thought she was a rottweiller. She had no fear, was the meanest dog I ever loved.
The mid-sized setter I have now is afraid of her own shadow. Nothing like the fearless poodle.
A special dog always has a special place in your heart. Sounds like these two had the same personality. The guy in the picture saved me from an intruder once. He turned from a sweat heart to the dog from something out of a horror movie. Scared me to death because I had no idea why he was trying to go through my window until our neigbor saw a man running from house. The man had followed me home. Good dog.</p>
beautiful dog. Enjoy her!
Great story. Thanks for posting.
Thank you. She is a wonderful dog, and just adores my kids. She thinks she is my fourth child.
Oh my, he is a pretty boy!
Here is Bart's son, Tide. He is also a very good hunting dog. Black Labs are the Best! With two Black Labs
in the home, there is no such thing as a late "sleep in". These guys are up at the crack of dawn and ready to go.
Good Hunting... from Varmint Al
The guy who almost drowned said: "A flock of mallards flew over and I fired. I watched one come down and walked onto a wing dam to get the duck that was floating away. After 30 yards, I slipped off that wing dam into the water." He should have just sent his Lab to retrieve the duck. Then he would never have been in any danger.
I mean, isn't the point of taking a Labrador RETRIEVER hunting is so they can retrieve the birds?
I'm glad the dog saved his life, but the guy still keeps the dog in a kennel. The guy doesn't sound like the sharpest dude around. Sheesh.
My 13yr old Lab his legs entangled in some rope from a sunken boat out in the Yaquina Bay here in Oregon this week end.
His eyes locked onto mine meanwhile Hunter my 2yr old tried to help him to no avail.
Off came my sweatshirt (thank God for Bras) and shoes and I dove in.
Kolbe has not stopped Thanking me and is glued to my side more than the usual overly so.
My toes on one foot took overnight to thaw and some scatches from Kolbe treading water in the same place do to the rope wrapped around his leg.
I still can't believe I did that.
Going to get ahold the Coast Guard and see about getting that rope cut as it has been a hazard for sometime.
So what is "cat"?
You turned her into a retriever? Kewl!
Good dog!
Mine's half chocolate lab and half Weimaraner. Sleeps with me very night. Neither of us would have it any other way.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.