A dog found swimming alone in the ocean off the coast of Mexico has been rescued by a group of fishermen. The fishermen were sailing near Cedros Island, Baja California, in the early morning when they spotted the animal approximately a mile from shore.
The dog, which was not wearing a collar or harness, appeared exhausted and was paddling away from the beach. The fishermen stopped their boat and brought the animal aboard to safety. After being given fresh water and food, the dog reportedly recovered and became an "unexpected fishing partner" for the crew.
"He was swimming about a mile offshore, exhausted and heading away from the beach. He looked completely lost, and we have no idea how long he had been in the water," the fishing group stated in an Instagram post. "There was no question—we had to get him onboard. So we rescued him, gave him fresh water and food, and for the next half day he became part of our fishing crew."
Upon returning to the dock at Cedros Island, someone recognized the dog, leading to its reunion with its owner. "Our unexpected fishing partner finally made it back home safely," the fishermen noted, adding, "Sometimes the best catch of the day isn’t a fish."