'I survived because of her' - Dog Owner and Doggo Lost At Sea For Months, Says That The Dog Was Crucial For His Will To Survive In Wholesome Rescue Story

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jul 25, 2023 1:00 PM EDT

You know this is going to be a good, wholesome story when you scroll down and see the pictures. This man and his doggo got lost at sea, traveling through the Pacific Ocean, and ended up getting stranded after the boat became damaged during a storm. He and his loving doggo, Bella, survived by fishing around the boat and collecting rainwater in buckets for drinking. The best part is that there's a happy ending - they were just found and everyone is healthy!

The best part is that when you see pictures of him, and pictures of Bella, you can see how much more malnourished he is compared to Bella. You can tell that he gave her an ample amount of food and water while rationing more for himself. He said that without her being with him, the isolation and struggles of survival might have been too much for him. So it's true, dogs do literally save lives.

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  • 01
    Font - 51 years old Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella rescued off the coast in Mexico after being stranded in the Pacific Ocean for months and they survived by consuming raw fish and drinking rainwater
    via u/Delicious-Let8429

    This guy is amazing, we're not sure if we would have been able to do it if we were him. But, we're sure being with your dog really helps - it fights off the worst part of all - the loneliness and isolation.

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    Water - UR an
    via u/Delicious-Let8429
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    Hairstyle - pitan siun entra a las ay duda. Car 06:2 55502454 KE F OODO 3 Geo
    via u/Delicious-Let8429
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    Boat - 9 EXCLUSIVE :9 NEWS
    via Lucy Slade, Allanah Sciberras, Raffaella Ciccarelli, Adam Vidler, 9 NEWS

    Look at Bella, that is not the body of a malnourished, thirsty doggo. She looks a bit tired, sure, but when you compare how she looks to how he looks, she's doing pretty alright. She was honestly probably loving that diet of fresh fish every day!

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    Face
    via Lucy Slade, Allanah Sciberras, Raffaella Ciccarelli, Adam Vidler
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    Glasses - 9 EXCLUSIVE
    via Lucy Slade, Allanah Sciberras, Raffaella Ciccarelli, Adam Vidler, 9 NEWS
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    Dog - 9 EXCLUSIVE :::9 NEWS ta
    via Lucy Slade, Allanah Sciberras, Raffaella Ciccarelli, Adam Vidler, 9 NEWS
  • 08
    Font - Mentohs +2. 6 days ago Whatever method of fishing he used must have been quite effective, months out there and he was able to sustain himself and his dog pretty well, outstanding. ↑ 5.0k Reply Share
    via u/Mentohs
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    Font - workerbee12three 6 days ago most of the lost at sea accounts say they can just hand catch the fish, an ecosystem develops from algae on the bottom of the boat, the fish start to eat this and use as protection and get used to the catchers hands in the water Reply Share 3.0k
    via u/workerbee12three
  • 10
    Font - LadyMoom 6 days ago The fact that he could keep his dog alive too. Going through that alone would be terrifying 13.2k Reply Share
    via u/LadyMoom
  • 11
    Font - crugerx 6 days ago Dog was probably like "I got kind of hungry sometimes and kind of thirsty too, but all in all, not a bad time!" 9.1k Reply Share
    via u/crugerx
  • 12
    Font - Kings_2025 6 days ago Lol dogs are always happy! You see a homeless guy with a dog and his tail is wagging happy as can be. 3.5k Reply Share
    via u/Kings_2025
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    Font - Elegant Spot_3486 6 days ago I love that he took care of his dog, I also want to believe the dog kept him alive too. I know we all aren't the same but alone that long it could be easy (atleast understandable to contemplate) just giving up. But that connection and dog counting on you, hard to turn your back on that. Reply Share 2.2k +1
    via u/Elegant Spot_3486
  • 14
    Font - _Futureghost_ +1 - 6 days ago The article says, "His companion Bella is also looking safe and well. Tipton said it would have been an isolating few months and likened Shaddock's story to a real-life Cast Away, referring to the 2000 movie starring Tom Hanks. He said having Bella onboard would have helped a "tremendous amount". "I think that may have well made the difference," Tipton said.
    via u/_Futureghost_
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    Font - Narrow-Mud-3540 +3. 6 days ago The marine survival expert in the article mentioned the dog was a huge asset and quite possibly the thing that made the difference brethren death and survival. So funny here all the people talking about how it's so nice of him to have not eaten it when it was proving him the most important resource there is in any survival situation - morale.
    via u/Narrow-Mud-3540
  • 16
    Font - MarvelousVanGlorious 6 days ago Dudes blood pressure is way better than mine. Time to get lost at sea boys! 4.9k Reply Share
    via u/MarvelousVanGlorious
  • 17
    Product - 6 days ago When they make this into a movie and the dog makes it to the end there won't be a dry eye in the house. Reply Share LemonHerb 3.1k
    via u/LemonHerb
  • 18
    Font - SummerJSmith - 6 days ago Good lord this is terrifying. I rarely go out with just my dog and even my back up safety gear has back up gear because you never know. I am so glad his dog made it. My biggest fear would be failing my best friend out there.
    via u/SummerJSmith
  • 19
    Font - +36 days ago. Jenetyk edited 6 days ago How do I know he's a good dog dad? Him: skin and bones His pupper: a little hangry
    via u/Jenetyk

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sea wholesome dogs heartwarming dog owner doggo love family lost animals rescue
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