When a dog named Monster fell overboard from a shrimp boat, her owner believed the worst had happened. Out in the middle of the Texas waters, with nothing but the horizon around them, Captain Keith “Kiwi” Soffes thought he had lost his loyal companion forever. Yet days later, against all odds, he received what he describes as nothing short of a miracle: Monster was alive, safe, and had somehow made her way to shore after swimming for miles.
Keith, a seasoned shrimp boat captain from San Leon, Texas, is no stranger to the unpredictable life at sea. What he is most known for, however, is the deep bond he shares with his beloved dog Monster. Ever since she was a puppy, Monster has been by his side on the boat. Day after day, she joined him on the water, never letting him leave her sight. For Keith, she wasn’t just a pet—she was family, a best friend, and a constant source of comfort during long days and nights on the Gulf.
But on one seemingly calm day, everything changed in an instant. The boat was steady, the water was smooth, and nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Somehow, Monster slipped and fell overboard. Keith didn’t see it happen; one moment she was there, and the next she was gone without a trace. Panic set in immediately. He turned the boat around, scanning the waves desperately. He called out her name, hoping to see her head pop up in the water. For hours, he searched every corner of the area around marker number 71, praying that perhaps another boat had spotted her or that she had managed to climb onto some floating debris. But there was nothing.
“I lost the one thing in this world that I truly loved,” Keith said, his voice breaking with emotion. “My best friend, Monster. We don’t really know what happened. She had been on the boat her whole life, since she was a puppy. I searched and searched, hoping somebody picked her up. I was totally heartbroken.”
As the hours turned into days, the hope of finding Monster began to fade. Friends and fellow fishermen comforted Keith, but even they knew the chances were slim. The waters around Galveston Bay can be unforgiving, and the distance to shore is daunting even for strong swimmers. Keith couldn’t shake the image of his dog struggling in the waves, and he found himself replaying the moment over and over again, wondering how he had let it happen.
Then, just when he had nearly given up, the miracle arrived. A few days later, Keith received word: Monster had been found. Somehow, against every odd stacked against her, she had swum all the way to shore. No one could fully explain it. The distance was long, the current was strong, and most people would have believed it impossible. But there she was, alive, wagging her tail, and ready to go home.
When Keith saw Monster again, he could hardly believe it. Overcome with emotion, he scooped her into his arms. “I said, ‘Man, she couldn’t have made that swim. There’s no way that dog swam that long.’ I was crying so hard I couldn’t even talk. She was giving me so many kisses.”
The reunion was nothing short of joyful. For Keith, it was like getting back a piece of his heart. For Monster, it seemed like just another day. Despite her incredible ordeal, she showed no signs of fear or trauma. To everyone’s surprise, she behaved as if nothing had happened at all.
“She acts like nothing happened,” Keith later wrote on Facebook, sharing a photo of Monster happily curled up and fast asleep. “She goes to sleep happy as a jaybird. I think she may have jumped off on purpose—just to get on TV. But I still love her, and I’m so glad I got my little friend back.”
The story of Monster quickly spread through local news outlets and social media, capturing hearts everywhere. People marveled at the dog’s resilience and determination. Many called her survival a miracle, while others said it was a testament to the unbreakable bond between a man and his dog.
Keith, though relieved and grateful, also knew he had to make changes. The ordeal had been too close, too painful, and he never wanted to experience that fear again. Speaking to FOX 26, he explained his plan: “I’m going to get her a tracking device and a life jacket. Next time we’re out on the water, she’s going to be safe. I’m not taking any more chances.”
Monster’s journey is a powerful reminder of courage, loyalty, and the surprising strength animals can summon when faced with impossible odds. It also highlights the depth of love between humans and their pets. For Keith, the experience was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. He went from despair to joy in a matter of days, learning firsthand that miracles can happen when you least expect them.
Today, Monster is back where she belongs—at home, safe, and by Keith’s side once again. While she may act like nothing ever happened, her story has become one that will be told and retold by those who heard it. A dog lost at sea, written off as gone forever, somehow swam her way back to life and into the arms of the man who never stopped loving her.
For Keith and Monster, every moment together now feels like a gift. Out on the water, where they’ve shared countless days and nights, there’s a renewed sense of gratitude. And for everyone who followed their story, Monster’s survival is more than just good news—it’s a reminder of the extraordinary resilience of animals and the unshakable bond that makes them truly family.
