If I Ever Float Away in a Kayak… We Have Problems.
Hey Pack, it’s Kodiak.
I saw a story today that had me barking at the TV.
A dog named Bruce was out kayaking with his dad when the kayak drifted away into the North Sea.
Next thing you know…
Bruce is floating around all by himself a few miles offshore.
Just chilling…literally, it was really cold.
Meanwhile, Bruce’s dad did what just about every dog parent would do.
He jumped into the water and started swimming after him.
Now before I continue, I need to make something very clear.
If that had been me?
My dad would’ve caught me.
Or I would’ve launched myself out of that kayak and dog-paddled back to shore.
There is absolutely no universe where I’m calmly floating away from the guy responsible for giving me treats every single day.
Not happening.
Now, as much as I’d like to believe my dad secretly has Aqua Man level swimming speed, if he wasn’t able to get to me he should do what Bruce’s dad did.
Bruce’s dad eventually realized he wasn’t going to catch the kayak.
Think about how hard that decision must have been.
Every instinct had to be screaming,
“KEEP SWIMMING!”
But instead…
He turned around.
He swam back to shore.
And he called for help.
That wasn’t giving up.
That was making the smartest decision he could.
Because once emergency crews knew what was happening, they could actually organize a search instead of hoping one exhausted guy swimming in open water would somehow catch a drifting kayak.
That’s what saved Bruce.
A group of local fishermen eventually spotted the runaway kayak miles offshore.
When Bruce slipped into the cold water, one of the fishermen, Aaron Fordy, leaned out and grabbed him while Captain Jimmy Reid held onto Aaron so he wouldn’t fall overboard too.
Now that’s teamwork.
They pulled Bruce aboard, wrapped him in warm towels, got him warmed up, and kept him safe until everyone was reunited.
That’s what heroes look like.
You don’t need a cape.
Sometimes you just need a fishing boat, a whole lot of courage, and a heart big enough to save a dog you’ve never even met.
To Aaron, Captain Jimmy, the other fishermen, the RNLI crews, the Coastguard, and everyone else who helped rescue Bruce…
The CDP salutes you.
Now Here’s Today’s Lesson
As the Alpha Dog of the Cardiff Dog Pack, I like solving my own problems.
I also like believing I can solve everybody else’s problems too.
Ask Dash.
He’ll tell you I’m only wrong about… maybe three times a year.
But even I know there comes a point where you need to call in the professionals.
Whether it’s firefighters, lifeguards, search-and-rescue teams, the Coast Guard, or a couple of fishermen heading out for a normal day on the water…
Sometimes the smartest move isn’t trying harder.
It’s getting the right people involved.
Bruce’s dad made exactly the right decision.
Had he kept swimming farther and farther into open water, rescuers might have ended up searching for both him and Bruce.
Instead, because he turned back and called for help, everyone made it home safely.
That’s good dog parenting.
So here’s today’s official Kodiak Rule:
Don’t let your dog drift away in a kayak.
Ok, ok, today’s rule, if something ever does go terribly wrong…
Stay calm.
Call for help.
Trust the professionals.
And if your dog’s name happens to be Kodiak…
Well…
You’d better swim really fast.
Because I’m still not giving up on those treats.
See you next time, Pack.
— Kodiak
Leader of the Cardiff Dog Pack
Professional Treat Specialist
Occasional Kayak Safety Expert
Want to read the incredible true story of Bruce’s rescue? Check out the original BBC article here: BBC News: Bruce the dog’s kayak rescue
👉 Want to show off your Pack pride? Shop the official Cardiff Dog Pack store for tees, hats, accessories, and more — and use code JOINPACK20 for 20% off your order!
👉 Haven’t read Episode 1 yet? Grab Desert Rescue on Amazon and join Kodiak, Dash, Terry, and Steve on their first adventure!
