I have seen photos for many years of people that had wildlife crawl up on their boat while paddling. Otters, seals, snakes, etc. But I had my first encounter with an animal, but a domestic animal.

We had started back to the launch and went up a side creek. We had turned around I was up front. We had paddled a while and I heard some laughter and something running through the leaves. I looked back and along comes this cute little dog. She runs along the bank following us. When the bank gets to steep or something is in the way... she just jumps in the water and swims along side of us. Eventually getting back on the bank. Problem is, 2 miles or so down the river she is still following us. We are all concerned about what to do because she is obviously determined to follow us.

We hit the big creek and were thinking it is wide enough we will go down the other side and she will give up and go home. WRONG! She swims out to the island we went behind and then starts swimming out to us. By this point the little girl has be tired and we are really scared he is going to drown. Phillip drags her up on his boat for a while and then she slide off the plastic. She comes along side me and I drag her up on my boat and he seems to like it but he is shivering and showing signs of tiring from all the swimming in the cold water. After a little discussion we decide there is only one option, take her with us. We can't let the little girl kill herself and I think she would have trying to follow us.

So 'Sea Biscuit' (needed something to call her) rode on my boat for an hour back to the ramp. I took her home and will start looking for her owner Monday by running ads and calling the local vets and animal shelters. Hopefully I can find her owner and get them back together. I hated taking her home but I just didn't see another option.