CARBON COUNTY, Pa. — On a holiday weekend like Memorial Day, people flock to Beltzville State Park near Lehighton, and this weekend was no different.
But park officials had some extra help managing beachgoers.
They had Kelby, a Landseer Newfoundland. She keeps a watchful eye on the water.
George Abraham Is Kelby's handler and the President of the American Academy of Canine Water Rescue. He says he was patrolling the lake with Kelby Sunday afternoon when he noticed people in the water.
"We knew something happened behind us. We heard the splash, we weren't sure what, but we turned around and saw people in the water around a jet ski, and at first, we thought they were just swimming," said Abraham.
The team quickly realized the two people in the water were not just swimming. But were instead in need of help. One man was able to get back on the jet ski.
"But the passenger on the jet ski could not and he didn't know how to swim. So we were able to deploy Kelby and Kelby was able to bring him over to our rescue boat, we were able to get him on the boat and bring him safely to shore," said Abraham.
Park officials say this was the first weekend of having rescue dogs out on the water. Which also happened to be Kelby's first water rescue.
"It's good, any extra help you can have is a good thing. They are donating their time for the safety of park goers and people who want to recreate in Pennsylvania," said Ben Monk, Beltzville State Park Manager.
Abraham says Kelby will be back at Beltzville for other holiday weekends.
"Being a lifeguard is all about being in the right place at the right time, and we were yesterday; it was a textbook example of how we train and how to make that rescue, and Kelby executed it flawlessly," said Abraham
To learn more about the work of the American Academy of Canine Water Rescue, you can click here.