Yesterday it was a brave cat. Today, it’s Italian canines. With at least 300 fully trained dog lifeguards, about 3,000 people are saved each year from drowning according to MSNBC.com,
Hundreds of specially trained dogs form Italy’s corps of canine lifeguards, are deployed each summer to help swimmers in need of rescue.
These “lifedogs” wear a harness or tow a buoy that victims can grab, or a raft they can sit on to be towed back to shore, and unlike their human counterparts, they can easily jump from helicopters and speeding boats to reach swimmers in trouble.
I once dated a guy who was training to be a lifeguard. I learned quickly that I’d be a terrible victim because I couldn’t stop myself from struggling. But if it were a dog who swam out to me, I think I’d be calm enough to just grab hold and kick. Canine lifeguards – we salute you!
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