Heroic Fishermen Rescue 38 Dogs in Dramatic Lake Rescue
In a heartwarming tale that unfolded on the expansive waters of Mississippi’s Grenada Lake, a group of dedicated individuals turned a potentially tragic situation into a remarkable rescue mission that captured the essence of compassion and quick action.
It all began when Bob Gist, an insurance agent from Jonesboro, Arkansas, and his companions were enjoying a day of fishing on the lake. Little did they know that their leisurely outing would transform into a race against time to save the lives of 38 hound dogs caught in a perilous predicament.
The dogs had ventured into the lake during a fox hunt, chasing after a deer that had taken to the water for escape. For the dogs, it was a natural instinct to pursue their quarry, but in the vast expanse of the lake, their energy waned quickly against the currents.
“When we saw the first head bobbing above the water, we knew they were in trouble,” Gist recounted, his voice reflecting the urgency of the moment. "A deer can swim the Mississippi River, and those dogs are not going to catch a deer in the water."
With their fate hanging in the balance, Gist, along with his friend Brad Carlisle and guide Jordan Chrestman, wasted no time springing into action. Maneuvering their small bass boat through the swirling waters, they reached the struggling dogs just in time.
“There were dogs everywhere, swimming in circles, unsure of which direction to go,” Gist recalled vividly. From the shore, the dogs’ anxious owners watched as the trio of rescuers embarked on a mission to save as many dogs as possible.
Their efforts were nothing short of heroic. With each trip back and forth between the distressed hounds and the safety of the shoreline, they loaded up their boat, carefully cradling the exhausted dogs in their arms. The photo Gist took during the rescue captures a poignant moment: Carlisle, his face beaming beneath mirrored sunglasses, surrounded by hound dogs perched precariously on the boat’s bow, their sides marked with numbers from the fox hunt.
But it was Chrestman, the seasoned guide, who Gist credited as the true hero of the day. His quick thinking and expert boat handling skills were pivotal in navigating through the tumultuous waters and reaching the dogs swiftly.
“If it wasn’t for Jordan, there would have been 38 dead dogs,” Gist emphasized, his gratitude palpable.
The rescue operation was not without its challenges. Some of the dogs were so exhausted that the men had to gently lift their heads above water before hauling them aboard. With each passing minute, the urgency grew as the dogs had already been in the water for an estimated 45 minutes to an hour by the time the last one was safely rescued.
Reflecting on the incident, Chris Gurner, a natural resource specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, noted the dogs' relentless pursuit of game, highlighting the rarity of such an occurrence on Grenada Lake.
“Opportunities to help somebody are in front of us all the time,” Gist remarked thoughtfully. “Sometimes if you see something, do something.”
Indeed, in the midst of a routine day on the lake, these ordinary men became extraordinary heroes. Their selfless actions not only saved the lives of 38 beloved hound dogs but also served as a powerful reminder of the impact of compassion and swift response in the face of adversity.
As the sun set over Grenada Lake that day, casting a golden hue over the waters that had witnessed both fear and rescue, it was a scene etched forever in the hearts of those who bore witness to a true testament of human kindness.