When passerby Jennifer Pluta saw a white dog struggling to remain above water after falling through the ice in Lake Michigan, she called police for help.
In an interview by TMJ4, the rescuer broke down upon remembering the incident, admitting she was tempted to jump into the water to save the drowning dog, herself.
Thankfully, help arrived just in time, and the pup was pulled to safety and treated for hypothermia.
The folks at the Wisconsin Humane Society cared for the pooch, now named Michigan, and waited a week to see if his owners would turn up; but no one claimed him.
In the meantime, adoption applications poured in from people who wanted to take Michigan home. But one woman in particular knew that they belonged together.
After seeing him on the news, Brenda Thompson rushed to the humane society to meet the pooch.
“I threw some clothes on and came straight here. I was here pretty much every day since I saw that story,” she told TMJ4 in an interview.
Her dedication paid off, because shelter staff decided that Thompson would provide the forever home that Michigan deserved.
In the TMJ4 interview, Thompson told reporters how she planned to make her new friend feel at home.
“The first thing I’m going to do is take him on a nice long walk…His bed is all made up. He’s got brand-new bowls and toys waiting for him. He’s good to go. I think this is the beginning of a great friendship.”
Also waiting for Michigan is a new sister, a black lab who was rescued from homelessness following Hurricane Katrina.
Thanks to passerby rescuer Jennifer Pluta and new forever mom Brenda Thompson for saving Michigan and giving him the life he deserves!
(Featured images adapted from the Racine Uncovered News website.)
