Have You Seen This? Parisians join forces, pull fearful pup from river

PARIS, France — A dog stuck in the Seine River spurred an outpouring of help from passersby, demonstrating the power of coming together when circumstances require it.

The poor pooch somehow ended up in the river in Paris last month along a steep concrete embankment under a bridge. A video shows the critter scampering a few steps up the embankment, then slipping back into the water, screeching to express its alarm.

That's when a gathered mass of passersby sprang into action to help the canine.

"No one asked whose dog it was. No one waited for someone else to act. People came together, worked as one and saved a life," intones the narrator of the video of the encounter posted by Caters Clips.

Someone initially extended what appeared to be a leash to the animal, but without opposable thumbs to grasp it, the canine just looked, then slid back into the water. Then, noticing a heavy chain extending from the sidewalk atop the embankment to the water, the people coaxed the animal toward the chain. A few people clambered down the embankment, holding onto the chain to keep from falling into the river, and ultimately grabbed the dog after it swam toward them, pulling it to safety.

"This is the kind of teamwork, compassion and humanity we need more of in this world," said the video narrator.

The sight of the animal, its struggle and its eventual rescue tugged at the heartstrings of many commenters. "So grateful for a happy ending for this precious pup," wrote one.

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Tim Vandenack

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Tim Vandenack covers immigration, multicultural issues and Northern Utah for KSL. He worked several years for the Standard-Examiner in Ogden and has lived and reported in Mexico, Chile and along the U.S.-Mexico border.