When Bryant Fritz set out to go fishing one early November afternoon, the last thing he expected to catch wasn’t a fish—but a dog. Fritz, a middle school science teacher at Next Generation School in Champaign, Illinois, was getting ready to cast his line into Kaufman Lake when he noticed something unusual in the water. Submerged in the rising, freezing lake water was a black and white female puppy, barely keeping her head above the surface. She was trapped inside a metal dog crate that had been dumped in the lake.

As a lifelong dog lover, Fritz didn’t hesitate. He immediately sprang into action. Stripping off a few layers of warm clothing, he waded straight into the icy water. “It was around 3 p.m. when I saw her,” Fritz later explained. “Part of the crate was still visible above the surface, and I could see the puppy’s head sticking out, but the rest of her body was underwater.” The water was bitterly cold, but Fritz didn’t stop to think about the discomfort. He knew he had to act fast.

“It was a cold and wintry day,” he said. “I took off a couple of sweaters and walked right into the lake. I believe I waded about 15 to 20 yards before I reached the crate.” When he finally made it to the dog, it was immediately clear she had been in the frigid water for hours. “She wasn’t just cold—she was on the verge of hypothermia. I pulled her out of the crate and dragged the whole thing back to shore.”

But once he reached land, Fritz saw that the puppy’s condition was even worse than he’d realized. “There was blood everywhere,” he said. “She had lost a lot of fur on her back end, and the bottoms of her paws were severely injured. She probably weighed around 15 to 20 pounds. She was just a baby. She was trembling uncontrollably, her eyes were closed, and she looked completely miserable.”

Without wasting another second, Fritz called the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital to let them know he was bringing in a dog in critical condition. She needed immediate treatment for hypothermia and visible injuries, and there could be other complications as well. On his way to the hospital, he made a quick stop at home to wrap the puppy in a blanket, hoping to warm her up as much as possible before they arrived.

At the hospital, the veterinary team sprang into action. Chris Beuoy, a spokesperson for the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, reported that the puppy responded well to initial treatment for hypothermia. The medical staff cleaned her wounds thoroughly and administered antibiotics and pain medication. “At first, we weren’t sure if she’d need additional treatment,” Beuoy said. “But on Sunday, she received further care for her injuries.”

Fritz stayed in close contact with the hospital and followed the puppy’s recovery carefully. While Champaign County Animal Control officially took custody of her, Fritz made it clear that he wanted to adopt her as soon as she was cleared for release. “As I was filling out the paperwork at the hospital, I just knew I wanted her to be a part of my life,” he said.

He and his girlfriend, Krystal, had already picked out a name for the puppy: Dory. Inspired by the character from the Disney-Pixar film Finding Nemo, voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, Dory seemed like a perfect fit. “Like the character, she didn’t give up,” Fritz said. “She fought to stay above water. She held on.”

The image of the small puppy, alone and freezing in a locked crate, was haunting. It’s not yet clear who abandoned her or how long she had been there before Fritz found her, but authorities are investigating. Fritz hopes justice will be served for the cruel act—but his main concern now is Dory’s recovery and future.

“I can’t stop thinking about what could have happened if I hadn’t gone fishing that day,” he said. “If I’d arrived an hour later, or decided not to fish there, she might not have made it.”

Fritz’s heroic actions have since drawn local and national attention. Social media users flooded the story with praise and support, commending his bravery and compassion. “It wasn’t about being a hero,” he said. “It was just something I had to do. If you see a life in danger, you don’t turn away.”

The hospital staff echoed that sentiment, calling Fritz’s quick thinking and willingness to dive into freezing water “nothing short of life-saving.” Many people have reached out offering help for Dory’s care or expressing interest in adopting her, but Fritz remains hopeful that he will be the one to bring her home permanently.

“She’s already part of our lives,” he said. “Krystal and I talk about her constantly. We’re preparing our home for her. She’s going to have a warm bed, toys, and all the love in the world.”

Dory’s story has become a symbol of resilience, kindness, and the incredible bond between humans and animals. Though her beginning was cruel and heartbreaking, her future looks bright thanks to the compassion of one man who just happened to be in the right place at the right time—and chose to act.