7/10/2010

Taddeo and the Swimmer


The Amalfi beach was crowded, normal for a day this hot  There were bronzed bodies everywhere: lying on beach towels sunning, building sand castles. But there was only one body Taddeo was interested in.  Hers.  He’d had his eye on her since he’d seen her swimming away from the beach.

Then, suddenly, he was in the water and swimming toward her.  She was way out, struggling.  He swam up close to her, and after she wrapped her arms around his neck, he brought her safely back to shore.

Being heroic was what he did.  He was a water rescue dog.

 

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Written for Velvet Verbosity’s 100-Word Challenge, this was inspired by the amazing water rescue dogs of Italy.  Trained for three years at the Scuola Italiana Cani Salvataggio (Italian School of Rescue Dogs), these dogs are credited with saving many lives off Italy’s shores.

For more information, visit these links.

BBC - Italian Water Rescue Dogs

Italian School of Rescue Dogs

8 comments:

  1. nice. what a wonderful happy ending...smiles. gotta give it to those dogs...

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  2. I wasn't sure what to think in the beginning, I felt the feminist in me tune in a little. But I LOVED it when I finished!

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  3. I've never even heard of these, thanks for making me aware. I have a labrador that Lurves the water wonder if she'd rescue me if I was drowning?

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  4. gotta love dogs and lifeguards!
    I did not see that one coming until the second photo. I did not even know about them. In California we have Canine Companions for Independence which help patients: in wheelchairs, with deafness, depression.
    keep writing!
    Dianne

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  5. Brian, Mama Zen, Dianne: I agree, these are very cool dogs, as are all helper dogs. And they all seem to love their work.

    Jennifer; I'm so glad! Thanks!

    Baino: I guess the big question is, does your lab Lurve you?

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