“Look what we just caught in the middle of Lake Michigan.”
That’s how Jeannie Wilcox began in a Facebook message that would lead to lots of phone calls and local interviews.
But it wasn’t a fish. And, no, she didn’t dredge up some wild piece of debris or anything more gruesome.
The Wilcox family took their boat “Off the Hook” on a 12-hour voyage from Grand Haven to Frankfort, Michigan on the first Friday in August when, 8 hours into the trip, they saw a figure in the water paddling furiously.
It was this sweet girl!
Wilcox told Michigan’s WOOD-TV8 she saw something red in the water – and she jumped into action when she realized it was a dog paddling for its life 6 miles north of Big Sable Point about 4 miles from the shore, the family stopped to stage a rescue mission.
That poor pup!
After getting the exhausted dog aboard, the family posted some photos to Facebook of their daughter comforting the creature and described their adventure.
The Wilcoxes continued on their journey for 4 more hours until they got to shore and headed to a veterinarian to see if she had a microchip. (This is yet one more reminder that pets should always have their chips up to date – as well as wear life vests while out on the water!)
“We have contacted her vet in Belmont but we don’t have a name for the dog. We think she came off of a boat that stayed in Manistee last night if anybody has information. We are headed to Frankford and will take care of her until we find her owners,” she added.
Luckily, the family was glad to help and didn’t seem to feel that their pleasure cruise was interrupted by the new, furry crewmember.
She was very well behaved and didn’t put up a struggle.
In fact, it looks like she might have enjoyed some of those 4 hours!
Thankfully, the owners were identified from the microchip and the Wilcoxes found out that they had been on their sailboat that day when the pup slipped off. It’s unclear if it took them time to notice.
“…owners are located and we should be hearing from them soon. They are on a sailboat. Thank goodness for microchipping!!” Wilcox wrote in an update to her original post.
But the owners had engaged in a frantic search for the dog and radioed the coast guard for help – they simply had no luck. Of course, that’s party because she was on the Wilcox’s boat for most of the day.
Wilcox estimates that the dog could have been in the water for up to an hour!
Lake Michigan has been deadly this year, even very close to shore, and waves can make it very difficult to spot swimmers in distress.
Of course, the pup’s owners were grateful for the rescue effort, and while everyone seemed pretty exhausted at the reunion, it was a happy one nevertheless.
The couple had seen photos of the dog in good hands before they met up with her rescuers, so they knew they were getting their furry friend back in good condition.
They were relieved – and we hope this pup got some extra snuggles and treats that night!
Jeannie Wilcox spoke with WOOD TV8 from her boat later in the day and said the family was intent on making the rescue – she would have wanted someone to do the same for her dog.
She also noted that the dog having a collar, tag, and up-to-date microchip was integral in getting her back home to her owners quickly.
“That dog couldn’t have been rescued by a better family!! One lucky pooch,” said one friend in the Facebook comments.
It’s always nice to see a happy ending to a potentially harrowing story.
Be sure to scroll down below to see Wilcox’s post-rescue interview.
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