Ralph and Pam Dorn always knew their Goldendoodle was special. Harley had served as a certified therapy dog and had the intellect and intuition to match.
But what this couple never would have expected to see was their dog caught in a rescue mission — especially not for a tiny fawn more than 200 feet from the shoreline.
Setting the Scene
Ralph and Pam live in a home on the water, hidden away in the hills of Virginia. Because their home backs up to the lake, it’s not uncommon to spot wildlife like deer and their fawns.
But the deer they saw that morning was not on the shore — it had swum a terrifying 200 feet into the lake.
Ralph and Pam hadn’t seen the fawn at first, but were getting concerned about where their furry companion had gone. It wasn’t long before they spotted his form in the water guiding a fawn towards the dry ground of their backyard.
Source: Inside Edition
The Dramatic Rescue
No one is certain how six-year-old Harley spotted the fawn. But he wasted no time saving the little animal’s life.
“Harley obviously didn’t ask why,” Ralph said to Daily Mail. “He just jumped into action.”
Ralph ran down to the lake to get a closer look. It didn’t take long before he was able to spot the tiny fawn. Anytime the baby deer tried to turn or change course, the dog would gently guide it back toward the shore.
Source: Daily Mail
Harley still found the energy to care for the exhausted fawn, even after swimming more than 400 feet.
“Harley didn’t want to leave the fawn,” Ralph reported to PEOPLE magazine. “He just kept interacting with it, licking it, caring for it.”
Source: Inside Edition
A Heartfelt Reunion
The Dorns were touched by their dog’s selfless act of love. But Harley wasn’t out of surprises — and his work wasn’t done.
The next morning, Harley was running from window to window. He was clearly anxious to get out of the house.
“I opened the front door and we could hear the fawn bleating,” Ralph reported to Inside Edition. “Harley ran into the tree line and found the fawn. The little one stopped bleating, tail wagging, they touched noses, sniffed each other, [and then] Harley came calmly back to the house with me.”
Source: Inside Edition
Harley’s incredible story has rippled across the world, touching the lives and hearts of millions of people. Many have reached out directly to the Dorns and thanked them for sharing the heartfelt video.
“We were just amazed [by the reaction],” said Pat to the Daily Mail. “We had no idea. We’re very happy that it has touched so many people and brought joy to so many as well.”
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