Dog helps Michigan police rescue owner from icy lake

Michigan State Police officer Kammeron Bennetts wasn’t able to get close enough to rescue a 65-year-old man who had fallen into a frozen lake. So, he called to the man’s dog Ruby and attached a rescue disc and rope to the dog’s collar. Then, he had Ruby’s owner call the dog to come to him. Ruby’s owned grabbed the rescue disc from the dog’s collar, and officer Bennetts then used the rope to pull the man out of the water to safety.

Class discussion: Who is the hero of this tale? The quick-thinking officer Bennetts? Ruby the clever and loyal dog? Both of them? Did the man in the lake also help save himself by cooperating with the police officer and following his instructions? How important is it to remain calm in an emergency? Do you think you could avoid panicking in a similar situation? What roles have dogs played in rescuing humans in accidents and disasters?