13 Year Old Boy Saves Senior Dog from Drowning
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13-year-old John Koobatian was visiting Chatfield Hollow with his friends and family on July 5th when the teen noticed an elderly dog struggling to stay afloat in a nearby pond. Casey, an elderly 15-year-old black lab was also visiting Chatfield Hollow that day with her owner, and had gone in for a brief dip when she became disoriented.
Nadine Koobatian, Casey’s owner, says she went for a swim and became confused and exhausted.
“In a frantic attempt to reach shore, she misjudged and instead made her way out to the center of the pond. Unable to swim further, she frantically thrashed and then succumbed to the water,” Nadine Koobatian says. “John, watching with his family and friends from the shore, realized that Casey was drowning and her owner was not able to swim out to rescue her. Without hesitation, John swam out to rescue Casey.”
After bringing Casey safely to shore, John can be seen comforting her in the picture above. ”She was treated at Killingworth Veterinary Hospital and released in good condition,” Nadine Koobatian said.
John’s proud mother says her son was in the right place at the right time.
“John is a strong swimmer and avid sailer who has spent most of the summer either on or in the water. We were also prepared to go in after John if we needed to,” she said. “The dog’s owner appeared to be in his mid-70s. He was clearly distraught and there was no way he could have gone in. John definitely saved the dog’s life. We are very proud of him.”
yeah John!!
hellz yah..
nice job…..
Outstanding!
Now THAT’S a kid to be proud of.
Woof woof!
33 
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Hell yeah!
John has restored a little bit of faith for today’s generation of kids who are all in for themselves. So glad he was there to help Casey!
Woof woof!
12 
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A true hero!
Woof woof!
4 
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he kept it brotherly with some nice work there
Thanks for saving that dog’s life and being a hero!
Woof woof!
6 
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God bless you John!!!!!
Woof woof!
4 
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what a great young man <3
Woof woof!
4 
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He’s my new hero!!! What a kid!!!
Woof woof!
4 
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Bravo!
Nice job young man
Hero !
What a wonderful young man to save the pooch. <3
ty so much for saving her, good job
Well done John!
Wow what a hero for saving the dog xx
That is a good kid!
You’re an angel boy! Keep it up!
Woof woof!
12 
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Cool. I’m sure somebody owed Casey one anyway.
Thank You John, & all dog lovers!
Good stuff!
May God Bless your kind heart always John Koobatian!
Wonderful young man – his parents must be so proud – good job all ’round!
A hero!
That’s a hero!
Hero….thank you young man.
What a beautiful story. John, you did a good thing and you will be blessed for your quick thinking and your brave action. You are a fine young man.
God Bless him
amazing teenager…
Way to go john!
HES OUR HERO !!!! GREAT JOB LIL MAN !!!!!!!
What refreshing story…good job, young man!
Thank God this kid was there!!
I love this kid.
♥ to the young boy, to Casey and to her owner♥..
Fantastic job John , you are a man.
Finally! A story on here that makes me happy. It seems I’m either angered or upset every time a new story pops up. I needed a positive, humane dog story. Great job kid!
now that, that is one fine kid. Good on ya, John.
Way to go man!!
Wonderful!
Awesome
With all the sad stories of abuse and neglect it is so nice,and needed, to hear a story with good news. Thank you John for renewing my faith in mankind.
Wonderful young man.
You’re awesome, John!! Thank you for that great act of kindness and compassion!
As a dog lover, thank you!
go kid go! =) i woulda done the same
We need more like John. Way to go pal.
Super Like.
Wonderful story! I understand how it happened. I have a 16 y/o dog and he gets disoriented in familiar surroundings, let alone if he were someplace new. I can’t take my eyes off of him.
The world is a better place because of people like you, John.
Way to go, John, you are a hero!!
wtg!!!! more ppl shld do things like this instead of just watching and doing nothing to help
God bless that boy.
That is so awesome!
John is a hero!!!!!
Good for him – what a sweet kid!
Bless
Nicely done young man!
WOW! Hooray for the HERO!
What an extra-special thing to do. John you are a hero! Great job!!!
What a blessing!
Now that’s a real hero <3
John’s family certainly should be proud of him! He helped make the world a better place.
LOVE to see stories like this with happy endings to them! Good job young man!
I want to take this kid – no, MAN – and hug him for what he did. Thank you so much <3
With kids like this, our country’s future is in better hands than many think!
Well done John.
Woof woof!
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Give that dog to John. Who lets an elderly lab swim without protection!
Kudos to parents too for teaching him to do the right thing. Great job to both him and his parents.
What a hero this little guy was… But if the owner of the lab were drowning I bet the lab would have jumped in to save its owner too… Both would be a selfless act of heroism don’t you think? My hats off to that boys selfless act… That’s what I call a hero…
A Warrior = One who fights for those who cannot fight for themselves.
thank God for John, there r still ppl who care!
c’est triste et beau à la fois !
Such a brave kid
Love this story!!! He is a real hero!!!
Sooo she couldn’t have called for help? She wouldn’t HAVE no choice…it’s GREAT to hear stories of young people doing admirable things!
Now that is a good story!!!!
So often dogs are angels for humans. This time a human was an angel for a dog
Miracles do happen all around us.
God bless that boy!!!!! I would owe my life to anyone who would save my puppy :’)
Congrats John and thank you! Hopefully the dog never goes back into water over its head again
god bless you john
The world needs more “Johns” in them! God Bless you!
watched helplessly? Sorry i would risk my life regardless of my age for a dog!
John you are the BEST!!!! You didn’t only save Casey, but you made the elderly owners heart smile! :.) At 13, you have done such a great rescue! It was a choice that you made, the right one at that. Thank you and you will be blessed in many ways throughout your life! <3
Well done John x
Hero!
This boy is a hero in my book. Way to go!!!! I also have a black lab. I would do anything for my dog.
Yeah, good story for a change.
Yay! A good dog story. : )
What is the relationship of the teen to the dog owner? That is not a common last name, at least that I have ever heard. To have two people with the last name of Koobatian at the same park on the same day at the same time is a little strange if they aren’t related in some way.
that’s what I was thinking at first, but Nadine Koobatian is not the dog owner, she is John’s mother. Later it describes the dog’s owner as a ‘he’.
although it does state that Nadine Koobatian is Casey’s owner too… something doesn’t add up! :/
Does it matter? What’s the big deal? You two make it sound like some sort of conspiracy. Just be happy for the outcome.
Maybe a typo or mistake by the publisher. are those still allowed on the internet WHO GIVES A RATS ASS!
awesome!
Bravo!
Thank you, beautiful hearted John! <3 You will grow to be be a fine young man your relatives and friends will certainly be proud of! Not to mention your facebook friends <3
John you did an awesome thing for both the dog and his elderly owner. You probably helped save the owners life also. Frequently, elderly people, especially if they are widows/widowers, rely on their pets to “keep them going”. You are a fine young man !!
Woof woof!
8 
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Your heart is filled with courage, kindness and selflessness…the heart of a hero. John, you ROCK! God bless you…
Well done.
Woof woof!
4 
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A hero in my book!