Here’s a story to melt even the coldest of hearts: a UPS delivery driver risked his own life to save a drowning dog from a frozen pound, and the continued with his deliveries, finishing his route.
His name is Ryan Arens and he’s from Bozeman, Montana. He recently reunited with Sadie, the 2-year-old dog whose life he saved while delivering parcels in the days leading up to Christmas, he tells the Great Falls Tribune.
Arens is a dog dad himself and he says he would risk his life again for a pup in a heartbeat. On the day in question, he was in his van, when he heard sounds of a dog in distress. He looked out on the frozen pond and he saw a dog struggling to keep her head above water. There was another man in a boat, obviously trying to get to her, but Arens knew the dog would go under if he didn’t act fast.
“I could see the dog trapped about 10-15 feet off of shore, with ice all around it,” he says. “I stripped to my boxers and got the guy out of the boat. Then I slid the boat out onto the ice, using it to distribute my weight. I shimmed out to where the ice was thin.”
When he got on thin ice, he fell out of the boat. Since he was already in the water, he decided to swim for the dog. He reached Sadie and grabbed her by the collar and swam with her back to thick ice. He then dragged her to shore, where another man was waiting with blankets.
Arens says he and the dog took a hot shower together at a nearby house, to warm up. Then, he got back in his clothes and continued to deliver the rest of his parcels, finishing his delivery route for the day. Now that’s dedication!
Arens recently met Sadie again, and she jumped in his arms, clearly recognizing him. He delivered a parcel to her owner and was eager to see her again.
“Animals are my weakness,” he says. “It was the highlight of my 14-year UPS career. This dog had a whole lot of life left in her, and I'm really glad I was able to act when I did. She's a sweetheart.”
Arens is a dog dad himself and he says he would risk his life again for a pup in a heartbeat. On the day in question, he was in his van, when he heard sounds of a dog in distress. He looked out on the frozen pond and he saw a dog struggling to keep her head above water. There was another man in a boat, obviously trying to get to her, but Arens knew the dog would go under if he didn’t act fast.
“I could see the dog trapped about 10-15 feet off of shore, with ice all around it,” he says. “I stripped to my boxers and got the guy out of the boat. Then I slid the boat out onto the ice, using it to distribute my weight. I shimmed out to where the ice was thin.”
When he got on thin ice, he fell out of the boat. Since he was already in the water, he decided to swim for the dog. He reached Sadie and grabbed her by the collar and swam with her back to thick ice. He then dragged her to shore, where another man was waiting with blankets.
Arens says he and the dog took a hot shower together at a nearby house, to warm up. Then, he got back in his clothes and continued to deliver the rest of his parcels, finishing his delivery route for the day. Now that’s dedication!
Arens recently met Sadie again, and she jumped in his arms, clearly recognizing him. He delivered a parcel to her owner and was eager to see her again.
“Animals are my weakness,” he says. “It was the highlight of my 14-year UPS career. This dog had a whole lot of life left in her, and I'm really glad I was able to act when I did. She's a sweetheart.”