In a heartwarming act of bravery, a man named Chris MacRitchie leaped into a freezing Vermont river to save a dog in distress on January 10. The dramatic rescue occurred in Berlin and was captured on video by MacRitchie’s son, quickly gaining traction on social media.
The incident began as MacRitchie’s family was in line at a Dunkin’ drive-thru. It was there that his son noticed a struggling dog near the Stevens Branch, a tributary of the Winooski River. MacRitchie, a father of two and a dog owner himself, felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility and urgency to act.
Reflecting on the experience, MacRitchie mentioned, “It was one of those moments where you realize you have to make a choice.” He expressed his hope that if his own dogs were ever in such a predicament, someone would come to their aid.
The footage shows MacRitchie, dressed casually in a T-shirt, sweatpants, and boots, making his way to the embankment where the dog was struggling. His wife can be heard cheering him on as he bravely makes his way into the icy water, gasping as he wades through the cold towards the dog. After reaching the frightened animal, he lifted it out of the water and carried it to safety on the frozen shore, where his wife awaited with a sweatshirt.
Regarding his concerns, MacRitchie stated, “The most stressful part for me wasn’t the cold water, but rather the depth of the river. I was unsure if it was deep or shallow.” Once he realized the water was only waist-deep, he felt a sense of relief, emphasizing that despite the cold, the rescue felt manageable.
After the successful rescue, MacRitchie contacted the dog’s owner, Morgan Cerasoli, whose information was on the dog’s tag. Cerasoli had been searching for her 7-year-old mutt, named Arizona, since January 9. She received the call from MacRitchie while en route to pick up her daughter from school, informing her that someone had saved her dog from drowning.
Overcome with emotion, Cerasoli exclaimed, “I started crying, and I told him, ‘Oh my God, I love you!’ Let me pull a U-turn and I’m coming right back.'” She described her immense relief that Arizona had mostly recovered after the ordeal.
After reuniting with her beloved dog, Cerasoli watched the video capturing the dramatic rescue and found herself in tears once more. She praised MacRitchie’s actions, declaring, “It’s brave, it’s selfless, it’s commendable. It’s everything we strive to be.” She lamented that such selfless deeds seem increasingly rare in today’s society.
This remarkable rescue story showcases the power of compassion and the lengths to which people will go for the sake of others, including our furry friends.
