Remember the Hurtta jacket we won, that Luke and Sheba showed off recently? That Summit Parka really came in handy this weekend when our temperatures took a sudden plunge to below zero. We tried to tell the dogs it was too cold to play outside, but they insisted. I had a friend over for the weekend so the Dadz bundled up to get the dogs outside for a short play session each day.
Sheba’s fur has mostly grown back in, but Luke really needed that coat, and I wouldn’t have wanted to send him outside without it. He is comfortable and happy in it, you can see that he can easily move around and plays like normal. But a story was shared with us of a dog who it turned out needed that coat even more, but in a different and unexpected way. This story was shared with us by our contact for Hurtta; it was sent to them by a client and it is a true story with a very happy ending.
Carol Bemis of Minnesota has three dogs and last fall she purchased a Hurtta Summit Parka for each of them. The cold winters there require warm and durable coats for their beloved pets. They live on a lake and in the winter it is their playground.
One day when playing there their English Pointer, Captain, disappeared. Each dog had a beacon light on their coats so they could be easily seen when walking at night. They could only see two beacon lights and knew that Captain had fallen through the ice.
What happened next, in Carol’s words: “Jacquie ran to the area where two of our dogs were standing. Captain was hanging on by one paw to the edge. He kept going under and trying to get himself out. Jacquie knew she couldn’t get close to him because of the thin ice. She ran close by and kicked down a post that was marking an area on the ice. She went back to Captain and used the post to push under the strap that goes around the dog body of the coat. She was able to help lift him out of the water with the post under the strap. That strap design, priceless!!”
Carol feels that if it had it not been for that Hurtta coat, there would have been a different ending; and it’s not surprising that she now feels the Summit Parka is “the best coat ever”!
Of course, these coats are not meant to be life jackets, but how wonderful that it worked that way for this happy and relieved family. I’ll be pleased if the only thing we ever need it for is to keep Luke warm and dry, but we never know what life is going to throw at us, or what might unexpectedly save it, do we?
Ice scares me. We have a local reservoir where they ice fish and I swear, sometimes I’m like, dude that ice has only been frozen for a week! I would never get on there. Especially with this crazy winter. The ice is frozen one week and liquid the next. Too scary for me and I would worry so, especially Delilah because I could see her charging out there!
So glad Captain’s story had a happy ending!
I know, I can’t believe the times that we see people out on the ice around here. I think every winter we hear of someone going through it while on their snowmobiles. At least they can’t do that this year since there’s been no snow to snowmobile on!
wow how scary, glad it turned out good.
What a great story!!
Ice scares us. We do not allow the dogs on ice except very thin surface ice when hunting, otherwise no.
I think it is scary as well, and best to just avoid it completely. I especially can’t imagine anyone venturing out on it this winter where it’s been so warm.
You got that right some idiot took himself and his 4 year old out to go ice fishing. The neighbors warned them about the ice. He did not listen and both drowned. Very sad.
That is crazy. So happy everyone is ok!! Daisy fell in the Genesee River and I tried to get her out and fell in. I had to push her out and then get myself out and it was so scary!! It has been cold and today we got 2 feet of snow in less than 24 hours. Coats are necessary for sure!!
Oh no, that must have been so, so scary, Julie! I’m so glad you and Daisy both ended up being OK. We are expecting some snow tonight, but only something like 2-3 inches.
Phew, Captain got really lucky!! I really like that this jacket is designed to wrap all around the K9 belly, which many others aren’t. I’m a huge fan of Ruffwear products, but this Hurtta one seems to be right up there with our Ruffwear jackets as far as quality & effectiveness are concerned!
I agree…some of the other coats and sweaters we have just don’t give much coverage in the belly area, and I like to keep that area clean and dry if we can. Plus that’s one area where Luke’s fur is very, very thin.
So scary. That is one good looking coat
Lily & Edward
I’m so glad you like the parka and that it came in handy! 😀
I am also really glad that Captain was able to be saved! What an amazing story!
This is really my favorite coat now for the really cold days. It just gives such good coverage but without fitting too tightly anywhere. Luke seems very comfortable in it!
Wow! Scary stuff there…. They look warm and cozy too!
Wow! That was quick thinking on her part. Great story. ☺
I know…I’m thinking I would have been too panicked to think that fast!
Oh my goodness! So glad it all ended well and for the well made jacket that assisted with the rescue!!
How scary! I’m so glad it all ended well.
Oh my gosh, that is such a scary story! I am glad it had a happy ending. That Hurtta coat was definitely a life saver! Amazing!
So glad you had the coats to keep you warm this past weekend. It has been terrible!
It is scary here in MN when animals go through the ice. It happens every year and sometimes humans die trying to save them. Glad the jacket turned out to be a life saver!
Wow! What a story. I’ve been terrified of falling through the ice ever since I read Little Women in middle school (and I lived in coastal GA then, so falling through the ice was not likely to happen). I don’t even let Barley put a toe on the edge of any ice-covered body of water–even though she’s always on leash–because I just know one of us will end up falling through. So glad this story had a happy ending–and that Luke’s getting some quality playtime thanks to his jacket! I’m pretty sure Barley would hide under the table if I tried to convince her to put a coat on.
I think just staying away from ice-covered water is the safest thing to do!!
Luke really seems to like wearing his jackets and sweaters. Even Sheba puts up with having one on. But Cricket is definitely not impressed – the one time I did it at first she just stood stock still and wouldn’t move, and then she just looked mad the rest of the time! Luckily she has that thick beagle fur so she doesn’t need one. 🙂
I’m so glad Cpatainhad this fab coat. It is a challenge to help a dog to get out of the water… specially when you have nothing what you can grab eggs-cept the fur.We had to rescue the dog of mom’s aunt once. this doofus jumped in a pool in fall and couldn’t get out. the uncle had to enter the pool too and had to lift up the dog (irish setter). after they dried the dog and the uncle they opened the door and the dog jumped in the pool again…
Big YAY for this coats…a life jacket indeed…
Oh no, I guess that Irish setter wasn’t the smartest of dogs, huh? LOL They’d probably have to put a real life jacket on him!