Whitney has to swim for survival on Girona's River Ter
Everyday during lock down in Girona, Spain I take Whitney for a long walk of 4 to 5 miles. There are a wide variety of places to go on foot around Girona, but a favorite for Whitney is along the Ter River where she can chase birds and go down to the water. She gets to walk off leash almost the whole walk. In the last couple of days we had a some rain storms, the river was full of water, and the junction of the Onyar and Ter rivers was a colorful mixture of muddy water.
Farther up the Ter, Whitney became excited by large number of sea gulls socializing on a gravelly island. Without thinking much, Whitney jumped into the river to swim to the island to chase the birds as is her instinct. The gulls flew away and circled above her in the sky. But, then she realized the challenge of returning back to mainland shore. I walked back and forth many times, trying to find shallow water and exhorting her to jump and swim to me. But, she couldn't bring herself to swim back. Whitney cried and shivered, but I was reluctant to personally swim and rescue her.
A woman and her golden lab dog came along and saw our predicament. She helped toss dead tree branches in the water to see if Whitney might be inspired to go after them. Instead, the good natured lab climbed into the water and swam across to Whitney, then swam back. But, still Whitney could not take the splash.
Then, a burly fellow and his large pit bull dog happened along to help. At about the time I started to take off my shoes, roll up my cuffs, and rescue Whitney myself, I turn to see the fellow already across the stream with his dog. The pit bull had to be restrained from attacking Whitney, and so then Whitney was finally inspired to swim for fear of the man and his pit bull. Whitney was soon thrilled to be back on shore, using beach sand to dry herself off. I walked for an extra mile to get her dried off a little before returning home. I had to give her a bath. She had a long nap next to me.
Covid19 Whitney nearly drowns dog walk
Whitney Swims the River Ter
Farther up the Ter, Whitney became excited by large number of sea gulls socializing on a gravelly island. Without thinking much, Whitney jumped into the river to swim to the island to chase the birds as is her instinct. The gulls flew away and circled above her in the sky. But, then she realized the challenge of returning back to mainland shore. I walked back and forth many times, trying to find shallow water and exhorting her to jump and swim to me. But, she couldn't bring herself to swim back. Whitney cried and shivered, but I was reluctant to personally swim and rescue her.
A woman and her golden lab dog came along and saw our predicament. She helped toss dead tree branches in the water to see if Whitney might be inspired to go after them. Instead, the good natured lab climbed into the water and swam across to Whitney, then swam back. But, still Whitney could not take the splash.
Then, a burly fellow and his large pit bull dog happened along to help. At about the time I started to take off my shoes, roll up my cuffs, and rescue Whitney myself, I turn to see the fellow already across the stream with his dog. The pit bull had to be restrained from attacking Whitney, and so then Whitney was finally inspired to swim for fear of the man and his pit bull. Whitney was soon thrilled to be back on shore, using beach sand to dry herself off. I walked for an extra mile to get her dried off a little before returning home. I had to give her a bath. She had a long nap next to me.
Covid19 Whitney nearly drowns dog walk
Whitney Swims the River Ter
