Applaud Elkhart Co. Humane Officer Don Ely

Elkhart County Humane Officer Don Ely was called out for a couple of stray dogs near Davis Street on Elkhart's east side. He tracked one of them through the woods to the Elkhart River. The small dog was already in the water, but the strong current swept her under the thin ice near shore.

"Once you see the dog and it's drowning in front of you all the other thoughts, worries and everything go out the window,” said Ely. “You just jump in."

Back at the shelter, her temperature was so low it wouldn't read on the thermometer.  It took forty minutes to get her temperature back up to normal.  Staff at the Humane Society have named her Pup-sicle.

It takes a special kind of person to jump into a freezing river to save a complete stranger, especially if that stranger is a stray dog.

You are special, Don Ely!  We applaud and thank you!!!