Oklahoma Campers Rescue Dog Lost Near Washita River

Two campers from Moore rescued a dog that became lost Saturday night near the Washita River in Davis, Oklahoma.

Todd Bracelin and his nephew Jason McClure went camping in Davis over the weekend. Bracelin said when they went to check on their catfish line at the Washita River, they heard barking, which scared them at first because they thought it was a dangerous wild dog.

However, Bracelin told News 9 they heard barking and crying again a short time later. That's when they went back to the area and saw a dog on the other side of the river.

"The dog saw us and kept wanting to try to cross the river," said Bracelin. "But if he did, the river would have taken him away as the current was very strong."

Bracelin said it took him and his nephew more than an hour to get across the river, due to the high water and strong current.

"We left that area and went about a half mile down to a point where we could maybe get him to cross safely, but that wasn't possible. So we decided to cross and get him," Bracelin said.

Bracelin and McClure made it across the river and rescued the dog. Bracelin said the dog was happy to see them, but was very cold and had many cuts on his body. They brought him back so he could sleep with them for the night.

Bracelin said the next morning, they woke up to about six inches of snow.

"He would have died I'm sure, with the snow and the coyotes," Bracelin said.

Bracelin said the dog had a hunting vest and collar on. He called the owners, who said the dog was in training for hog hunting and had gotten lost. The owner of the dog told Bracelin that he would surrender the dog to him.

Bracelin's nephew took the dog to an Oklahoma City animal shelter but later decided to keep him as a family dog and went and picked him up.

"I decided to keep him because, really, I think it was meant to be," Bracelin said.