Meet Keizer: The Pit Bull that Rescued a Child from Drowning at the Oregon Coast

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in August, a remarkable incident occurred on the sandy shores of Lincoln City, Oregon. A young toddler was in imminent danger of drowning in the surf, when a pit bull named Rocky sprang into action.

With remarkable speed and agility, Rocky raced across the beach, diving into the ocean, and using his teeth to grasp the child’s shirt. In a matter of seconds, he had successfully rescued the child and brought her to safety.

Despite the life-saving efforts of this heroic dog, the incident went largely unnoticed. There was no widespread social media coverage, and no video footage capturing the dramatic rescue.

Nevertheless, those who witnessed the event will never forget the bravery and selflessness of this lovable rescue dog.

Heather Howard, who was present during the rescue, reflects on the incident with vivid recall. She is one of many who hold Rocky in high esteem, grateful for his quick thinking and unwavering dedication to the safety of others.

It happened on a Summer day

It was a typical summer day on the Oregon Coast, with families enjoying the sun and surf. Heather Howard, the proud owner of a recently adopted pit bull named Rocky, was among the beach-goers.

Rocky was happily playing with a new canine friend, a corgi, when he suddenly veered off course and made a direct line towards the water.

A sudden change in behavior

Ms. Howard was taken aback by Rocky’s sudden change in behavior and immediately followed him, as did two other concerned individuals. Upon reaching the shoreline, she was stunned to witness Rocky heroically rescue a young child from the ocean.

With his sharp instincts and unwavering determination, he had successfully retrieved the child from the water and brought her to safety.

A newly heartwarming scene

Upon reaching the shoreline, the dramatic events of the rescue were replaced with a heartwarming scene. The young child, who had been rescued by Rocky, was now safe and sound, coughing and laughing as the heroic pit bull affectionately licked her face.

Miraculously, the child had sustained no injuries, with the exception of a small tear in her shirt caused by Rocky’s grip.

The women who had followed Rocky to the water’s edge were visibly shaken, their emotions a mixture of relief and disbelief. They pondered the chain of events that had led to the child slipping into the water and being rescued by Rocky.

The pit bull, sensing the tension, distracted the women by rolling over and inviting them to rub his belly, which they did with grateful hearts.

After the rescue, all parties went their separate ways. Despite her efforts, Heather Howard was unable to obtain the names of the child or the accompanying women.

She was unsure of the child’s age, but estimated she was between one and two years old. The family’s location of origin remains unknown

It wasn’t until Heather Howard returned to her hotel room and recounted out the events of the day to her husband, Rich, that the true magnitude of what had transpired began to sink in.

As they reflected on the heroic actions of their recently adopted pit bull, Rocky, they both shared a moment of awe and amazement, realizing the full extent of what he had accomplished.

Despite the eventful nature of their weekend at the beach, the Howards returned home to Keizer, Oregon, and resumed their busy lives.

As owners and operators of Willow Lake Golf Center and Driving Range, and dedicated coaches of their 12-year-old daughter Raegan’s traveling softball team, they had a full plate of responsibilities.

In recognition of Rocky’s heroic actions, the Howards chose to share their story with the Oregon Humane Society, where Rocky was adopted in July of the previous year.

Rich Howard believed that the society, who had grown attached to Rocky as a staff and volunteer favorite on their Salem campus, would be interested in knowing of his accomplishments.

The staff and volunteers at the society had developed a strong bond with Rocky during his 60-day stay at the shelter, regularly checking in on his well-being.

They recognized his calm and easy-going demeanor, as well as his ability to get along well with everyone. Despite the fact that he had been surrendered by his previous family due to their inability to take both dogs during a move, and later returned by another adopting family after only three days, the society never lost hope for Rocky’s future.

The Howards’ story is a testament to the resilience and bravery of shelter animals, and the impact that a loving and dedicated family can have on their lives.

The Oregon Humane Society is proud to have played a role in Rocky’s journey, and is grateful for the opportunity to share in his success

The Howards believe that Rocky’s early life was marked by mistreatment, as evidenced by the filing down of his canine teeth. Information received from the Humane Society indicated that he was kept as an outdoor-only dog, with food and water provided in large buckets.

Sadly, many pit bulls find themselves in animal shelters, some in even worse circumstances. The recent adoptable page for the Salem campus of the Oregon Humane Society, for example, featured six of the sixteen available dogs as pit bulls.

Despite the stigma that often surrounds pit bulls, characterized as aggressive by nature, Rocky’s behavior belies these negative stereotypes. With a black coat accented by white on his chin and chest, he is known for his sweet and gentle disposition.

He enjoys the company of both people and animals, and has been fully integrated into a household that includes two cats, as well as a third cat located at the Howard’s Willow Lake Golf Center. While Rocky has formed positive relationships with all the cats, there was a recent, brief altercation with Thor, the cat at the golf center.

Nevertheless, the Howards remain confident in Rocky’s ability to continue building positive relationships with all those he encounters.

Rocky’s nurturing instinct has been seen around adults, too, including him watching over a man in a wheelchair they met that weekend at the beach.

The Oregon Humane Society used Rocky as a poster boy last fall for its annual Bowser’s Boo Bash fundraiser, producing a video and sharing his story with the crowd. Rocky wore a Batman cape in the video.

“From what they said, after they played that video, there was not a dry eye in the house, and the checkbooks started coming out,” Rich said.

Oregon Humane Society raised more than $100,000 at the event.