A middle school teacher from Champaign, Illinois is being hailed as a hero. Bryant Fritz, who teaches at Next Generation School, was out fishing when he spotted something in the water. As he got closer, he made a shocking discovery. A cage was submerged halfway in the water. Inside was a puppy.

Fritz makes a shocking discovery

“As I was walking I noticed there was something strange in the water and as I walked closer I noticed that there was a dog crate in the corner,” Fritz said in a WAND 17 interview.

The dog was in dire straits. He had no idea how long she had been in the water. His only thoughts were to save the poor pooch. Thinking nothing of his safety, Fritz sprang into action.

Jumping in to save the poor dog

“I started taking off my layers of sweatshirts. It was about waist deep and she started shaking really really bad.”

As Fritz got closer, the pup started to anticipate her rescue. By the time he reached the cage, with the water up to his waist, she was shaking uncontrollably. Grabbing the cage, he carried it carefully up onto dry land.

Working to save the dog’s life

Fritz rushed the poor dog to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital. At first, he was not sure the dog would make it, but he professionals at the hospital got quickly to work trying to save her life.

She had open wounds on her body and patches of skin were missing. The dog looked like she had been abused before she was placed in the cage in the water. Also, the poor dog was suffering from hypothermia.

Unresponsive at first, the vets worked frantically to raise her body temperature. And while her body temperature was so low that it wouldn’t register on their thermometer, after three hours of warming, the dog’s temperature was back to normal.

A dog named Dory

Naming the dog Dory, the vets next got to work patching her up. Fortunately, Fritz came along when he did or Dory would have died. The police are currently investigating the case and are searching for the person responsible for Dory’s abuse and abandonment.

Hope for the future

As for Fritz, he plans on adopting Dory as soon as she is ready.

“One of my dogs passed away a few years ago so I’ve been a little bit lonely. I’ve been to the shelters and I always told myself whenever I was walking through the shelter and I found the right reason to adopt I would. This feels like the right reason to me.”

First, though, the police need to conclude their investigation and she needs to heal from her wounds. Anyone with any information about the abandoned dog can contact police at 217-351-4545.

Fritz has this to say to any pet owners out there who are having trouble keeping their pet.

“If they’re in a situation where they can’t responsibly take care of a pet, there are other options.”

In the meantime, animal control services are making sure that Dory gets the care she needs. Here is a video with more on this story of abuse and abandonment, and the hope that someday soon Dory will go to live with Fritz in her forever home.

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Source: Paws 4 Hope