Call it a Songkran miracle. How else to describe Friday’s discovery of a wet, shivering pup found desperately clinging to an oil-drilling platform 220 kilometers from the nearest land?
The dog, dubbed Boonrod (aka “survivor”) by his rescuers, was found by members of Chevron’s Thailand Exploration and Production team, one of whom took to social media to share the remarkable tale.
https://www.facebook.com/vitisak/posts/3314020555290899
In his Friday Facebook post, team member Vitisak Payalaw, said they first spotted the pooch as he was swimming toward the platform. After he managed to reach a pipe at the waterline, the team members decided they had to act.
“He did not make any noise or bark. We tried to find ways to rescue it. Finally, we decided to tie a rope around his neck and pull him to our site. We had to race against time as wind waves might sweep him away,” Vitisak wrote, guessing that Boonrod had likely fallen from a passing fishing vessel.
A series of photos then shows the soaked, scared pup’s transformation as he’s pulled to safety, fed and cleaned up.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3314670818559206&set=pcb.3314020555290899&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3314688568557431&set=pcb.3314020555290899&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3317766808249607&set=pcb.3314020555290899&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3317766238249664&set=pcb.3314020555290899&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3317766978249590&set=pcb.3314020555290899&type=3&theater
In a post yesterday, Vitisak said Boonrod was finally back on shore.
“His overall condition has improved. He is getting stronger and can smile,” he wrote.
Smiling? Sure, some might debate whether dogs can actually smile like humans, but not us. Not today. Boonrod is clearly smiling, dammit. And why shouldn’t he? He’s the ultimate rescue dog.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3321146201245001&set=pcb.3314020555290899&type=3&theater
In case you’re wondering what’s next for Boonrod, Vitisak says he plans to adopt the pup when he gets home from his shift on the rig, according to ABC News.
