Home security footage shows a 13-year-old toy Pomeranian called Chucky tumbling into the water while wandering the pool’s edge.
Moments passed with no one around until seven-year-old Jessie, the family's Staffie, appeared.
Four-legged hero
Realising Chucky was in trouble, Jessie began circling the pool, tail wagging anxiously as she followed his desperate movements.
For nearly half an hour, Jessie tried to grip Chucky from the edge, eventually pulling him to safety using only her teeth.
Owners Byron and Melissa Thanarayen, from Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, were stunned when they reviewed the footage.
“We thought he’d just gotten wet from the water bowl,” Byron said. “But seeing what really happened broke our hearts. Jessie was incredible.”
Better to be safe than sorry
Despite both dogs being trained to swim, the couple says they’ll now be installing a pool cover.
“We never imagined something like this could happen, but Jessie showed us how important it is to be prepared,” Byron added. “She’s our hero.”
Well done, Jessie!
