Rescue
Therapy dog saves baby deer from drowning in lake and now refuses to leave its side
The fawn was drowning in a Michigan lake but Harley wasn't going to let that happen.
Cherie Gozon
07.27.21

It is in a dog’s nature to be caring and compassionate.

Pexels|Bekka Mongeau
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Pexels|Bekka Mongeau

We heard a lot of stories about dogs saving both animals and humans. At the same time, many rescue dogs serve as therapy dogs for the elderly in shelters, children in special care, and retired military men. They make the best companions because they understand human emotions.

This retired Marine Corps pilot has such a dog with a golden heart.

Facebook|Ralph Dorn
Source:
Facebook|Ralph Dorn

Harley is a Goldendoodle. At six years old, he has served as a certified therapy dog who frequents elderly care facilities. He also joins children at the local library during their reading hours, sitting with them and keeping them company. Then, he met the Dorns.

Ralph and his wife love Harley and even more after his heroic act.


Ralph Dorn posted this incredible moment of his therapy dog saving a drowning fawn in the nearby lake. This story is so amazing that his post has been shared more than 260,000 times with over 119,000 reactions.

Ralph shared that he was looking for Harley.

Facebook|Ralph Dorn
Source:
Facebook|Ralph Dorn

He went around the house and their yard, but no sign of him. But when he looked out of the lake, there he was. Curious about what led his dog to take a swim, he went nearer and was surprised at what he saw.

Harley was trying to save a baby deer right in the middle of the lake.


He was carefully herding the fawn out of the lake until they reach the shoreline. Once they were out of the water, the loving dog continued to care for the young deer. He was licking it and didn’t want to leave.

A few moments later, they spotted the mother deer.

Facebook|Ralph Dorn
Source:
Facebook|Ralph Dorn

Ralph slowly led Harley back inside their home so the doe and fawn will be reunited. Alas, both deer walked slowly out of the scene.

But the story doesn’t end here.

Facebook|Ralph Dorn
Source:
Facebook|Ralph Dorn

The following day, Ralph’s wife, Patricia, was having her morning coffee when she noticed Harley was frantic that morning. He was uneasy running from one window to the other, signaling that he wanted to go out.

Patricia opened the door and heard a fawn bleating.

Facebook|Ralph Dorn
Source:
Facebook|Ralph Dorn

It was the same fawn that Harley saved! Both Ralph and Patricia couldn’t believe what they saw. Harley told People:

“Harley ran into the tree line and found the fawn. The little one stopped bleating, tail wagging, they touched noses, sniffed each other, and Harley came calmly back to the house with me.”

This heartwarming gesture tells us that these two have somehow formed a bond.

Facebook|Ralph Dorn
Source:
Facebook|Ralph Dorn

We can interpret this as the fawn’s way of saying thanks to the dog who saved it, and maybe a goodbye since Ralph said they never found both doe and fawn since.

It turns out Harley is really a sweetie.

Facebook|Ralph Dorn
Source:
Facebook|Ralph Dorn

Aside from his experience as a therapy dog, Ralph shared that Harley is fond of all his grandchildren and them of him. Who wouldn’t love Harley, right? With his eagerness to help and care for others, he sure is a man’s best friend.

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