While most people were celebrating love on Valentine’s Day in 2019, a man named Don Chatten showed true compassion by rescuing a stranger’s dog from icy waters.
Don lives in Buffalo, New York, and is a big dog lover. He has two rescue dogs of his own, Duke and Milo, and he often takes them to the Bark Park at Ellicott Creek Park so they can play without leashes.
On that special day, Don took Duke and Milo to the park like he usually does. As he was leaving, a worried man approached him and asked if he had seen a small terrier named Jackson. Don offered to help find the missing dog, and they decided to search separately.
Don walked around the park with his two dogs but didn’t spot Jackson. When they reached a bridge over Tonawanda Creek, Duke and Milo suddenly stopped and began to whine.
Looking down, Don saw a tiny terrier struggling in the freezing water below. Nearby, two women named Mary Balicki and Samantha Kelly were standing by the creek. Mary suggested they call 911, but Don was afraid Jackson wouldn’t survive the wait.
Since Jackson’s owner wasn’t around, Don quickly decided to act. He handed his flannel shirt and wallet to Mary and jumped into the water to save the dog.
Growing up in the area, Don knew the creek was shallow near the edge.
“I kind of crawled up on the ice, and the ice gave away… At that point, I was up to my waist in water, but I knew it was shallow because I knew that park… I knew it was shallow, so I just kind of broke the ice and pulled the dog out.”
Don reached Jackson and pulled him out of the water. On the way back, he had to break through more ice and felt a bit out of breath, but he made it safely to shore.
Mary and Samantha were amazed by Don’s bravery.
“Not many people would jump in for someone else’s dog,” Mary told The Buffalo News. “He just saw a situation, and he just handled it.”
Don returned Jackson to his grateful owner, who rushed the cold dog to the vet. Thankfully, Jackson was okay!
Samantha shared photos of Don’s daring rescue on Facebook, and many people called him a hero. But Don didn’t see himself that way—he credited Duke and Milo for finding Jackson.
Shortly after being released, he became overcome by rage and frustration and began violently wailing on his poor, trembling, frightened dog. It's clear that this man's violent tendencies didn't decrease after serving his time.
“I just did the grunt work,” Don said.
In May 2019, the American Red Cross of Western and Central New York honored Don with their Animal Rescue Hero Award. After risking his life to save Jackson, he truly deserved it!
Don’s quick actions saved a tiny terrier from an icy creek. If you’d like to see more about his rescue, check out the video below.
Toledo, United States.