‘It was extremely scary’: Teen recalls frigid water dog rescue

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – An Indianapolis teen is being called a hero, after he saved a dog from frigid waters. However, the dog’s owner knows firsthand, the story could’ve ended differently.

Nick Travis remembers the moments before he pulled a dog from the water. “It was extremely scary once I got to the very edge, and the dog went under,” Travis said.

On a cold, frigid Thursday night, the 16-year-old sprang into action when he heard his neighbor’s dog fell into the water. “She had her stomach about the midway, and her hands were way over the top,” Travis said. “It just looked terrible for the dog in that situation.”

Despite wearing shorts and t-shirt, the teen raced for a boat.  But when he got to the dog, the boat dropped in the water, leaving him stranded for 30 minutes, until firefighters rescued them both.

“My hands were extremely numb,” Travis said.

While it was a happy ending, and a heroic effort, the dog’s owner is an EMT, and he very well knows had Travis fallen through the ice, this story could have had a very different ending.

“Had he fallen in, he could have easily lose consciousness within a few minutes,” dog owner Tom Arkins said.

On Friday, the dog, named Lazy, is grateful, like her owner. “To see happy ending is always great,” Arkins said. “To know that she’s doing OK, and she’s happy and healthy, and well, that’s just, I’m thankful to Nick for that.”

Despite the risk, Travis doesn’t regret his decision. As for the title of hero, he just sees it as helping his neighbor.

“I don’t know if hero would be a term to be using since it was a small, family neighbor dog, instead of a human,” Travis said.

Travis says the heroic treatment isn’t just from his neighbor, but at school too. The Perry Meridian High School sophomore was called to the principal’s office today, where he received a nice welcome.

As for Lazy, her owners said they’ve made changes. No longer will she be allowed to wander in the back without a leash.