In a heartwarming story of courage and compassion, Ryan Arens, a dedicated UPS driver from Bozeman, Montana, has become a national hero after he risked his life to save a dog trapped in icy waters. What began as a routine day on his delivery route turned into a dramatic rescue mission that left a lasting impact on all who heard the story. Arens didn’t hesitate when he saw the animal in danger, diving into the freezing water to save the struggling dog, an act of bravery that has touched countless hearts across the country.
On that fateful day, Arens was driving through Bozeman, Montana, making deliveries along his usual route as the sun began to set, casting a dim glow across the landscape. As he approached a house to drop off a package, an unusual sound pierced the stillness of the evening—a high-pitched, desperate cry. “This dog was screaming and crying and going crazy,” Arens later shared with the Great Falls Tribune. His initial reaction was concern; it was clear from the distress in the sound that something was terribly wrong.
With daylight fading, Arens quickly scanned the area, trying to locate the source of the heartbreaking noise. Though he couldn’t initially see anything, he was determined to investigate further. After completing his delivery, he drove to the other side of the pond, suspecting the sound might be coming from that direction. What he saw confirmed his worst fears: a dog trapped in the frigid water, struggling to keep its head above the ice-cold surface. The dog was stranded about 10 to 15 feet from the shore, with sheets of ice all around, and its chances of survival were rapidly dwindling.
But Arens wasn’t the only one trying to help. An elderly man in a small rowboat was making his own courageous attempt to break through the ice to reach the dog. However, despite his best efforts, he struggled to chip away at the thick ice and make any progress toward the animal. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Arens knew he couldn’t simply watch. With time ticking, he understood that he was the dog’s only hope.
Without a second thought, Arens sprang into action. He stripped down to his boxers, abandoning his warm clothing, and asked the man to exit the boat. “I stripped to my boxers and got the guy out of the boat,” he said. Driven by adrenaline and determination, Arens pushed the boat onto the ice, hoping it would help distribute his weight. “I shimmied out to where the ice was thin,” he explained, carefully making his way closer to the dog.
As he moved forward, the ice beneath him began to crack under the pressure. Suddenly, the ice gave way, and both he and the boat plunged into the icy water, which was about 16 feet deep. The shock of the freezing water was immediate, but Arens’s resolve didn’t waver. He was already in the water, so he figured he might as well swim the remaining distance to the dog.
“She was starting to go under,” Arens recalled the urgency still clear in his voice as he recounted the moment. He reached out, his hands numbed by the cold, and grabbed the dog’s collar. Despite the biting cold and his own vulnerability, Arens held on and began swimming back, determined not to let the dog slip from his grasp.
When they reached a part of the pond with thicker ice, Arens slid the dog across it, inch by inch, carefully pushing her to shore. Once he saw that the dog had made it to solid ground, he pulled himself up out of the water, exhausted but relieved. By this time, several bystanders had gathered, drawn by the commotion. They rushed forward with warm, dry blankets, wrapping them around both the soaked driver and the shivering dog.
The dog’s ordeal, however, wasn’t over. She had been in the freezing water for too long, and her body temperature had dropped dangerously low. The bystanders brought the dog into the elderly man’s house, where Arens joined her in a warm shower, attempting to raise her body temperature. They weren’t alone for long, as animal control officers and the local sheriff’s department arrived shortly after, recognizing the need for urgent medical attention.
Reflecting on the experience, Arens admitted, “I knew someone had to get to her. She wasn’t going to make it.” Thankfully, with the help of local animal control and the swift actions of her rescuer, the dog was rushed to receive the treatment she needed.
Incredibly, despite the intense cold and a minor cut on his leg, Arens was determined to finish his route. Driven by a sense of duty, he got back in his truck and completed the deliveries for the day, finishing over 20 more packages before heading home.
“Animals are my weakness,” Arens said, adding that he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving the dog to such a fate. In fact, he credited the rescue as “the highlight of my 14-year UPS career.” He explained that he would have done the same for his own beloved dog, a 14.5-year-old Malamute-Shepherd mix who means the world to him.
Days after the heroic rescue, Arens was delighted to discover he would be delivering a package to the very house where the dog lived. When he arrived, he noticed the dog—now identified as Sadie, a 2.5-year-old wirehaired pointing griffon—was in the back of a pickup truck outside. The moment Sadie saw him, she became visibly excited, remembering her rescuer.
“She was freaking out, and when he let her out, she ran to me,” Arens said, smiling as he described their reunion. “She must have remembered me. It sure made me feel good.” Knowing that Sadie was healthy, happy, and safe brought him immense joy and satisfaction.
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Looking back on the incident, Arens expressed his gratitude for having the chance to help. “This dog had a whole lot of life left in her, and I’m really glad I was able to act when I did. She’s a sweetheart,” he said. For Sadie, life is now back to normal, and her boundless energy hints at a future full of adventure and companionship.
Thanks to Arens’s quick thinking and selflessness, a life was saved, and a bond was formed. This inspiring story of courage and compassion serves as a reminder of the incredible impact a single act of bravery can have on the world.
Toledo, United States.
