PETA honors man who pulled pup from Saginaw River
By Jodi McFarland
March 20, 2008, 7:32AM
A national animal rights organization is throwing a bone to a 41-year-old man who saved a Rottweiler from the Saginaw River last week.
A representative from Norfolk, Va.-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -- or PETA -- says the group has chosen Saginaw's Charles E. Buriel as the latest recipient of its Compassionate Action Award.
They give the prize about once per week to individuals who show humanity to animals, said Travis Poland, special projects coordinator at PETA.
Buriel, an employee of Peggy Lee Cleaning Services in Saginaw, spotted the dog, Hannah, March 12 on the Court Street Bridge while driving home. Minutes after he attempted to catch the canine, she dove into the river, dog-paddled and drifted for a quarter-mile before Buriel pulled her out using his belt.
"We're always patrolling the Internet for stories like these, and we stumbled across it on MLive," The Saginaw News Web site, Poland said. "We thought (Buriel) deserved the recognition. He's an example for others."
Poland made the recommendation to other PETA workers and the group agreed. Buriel will receive a framed certificate and a thank-you card within weeks, Poland said.
"I was surprised," said Buriel, who learned of the news by phone Wednesday. "I feel really good about it. Honored."
Meanwhile, Buriel is readying his home for the rescued dog's brother, Walker. He plans to add the pup to his family today Thursday or tomorrow.
Evy Lynn Wyman, owner of Midland-based Wyman Kennels, said she would give the dog to Buriel for saving its sibling.
Buriel remains humble about the rescue, giving credit to his wife, 32-year-old Alicia Buriel, for calling 911 to get help from the Saginaw County Animal Care Center.
Charles Buriel had said he would keep the 1-year-old, 40-pound black pup that was lacking an ID tag if owners didn't come forward. Gerald and Lisa Hall of Saginaw Township, who had adopted Hannah from Wyman Kennels the day before, claimed her the next day.
Dog rescued from river goes home to new owners
March 15, 2008, 3:09PM
SAGINAW -- After a rocky beginning, Hannah, the Rottweiler who took a swim in the Saginaw River, is settling in at her new home.
Gerald and Lisa Hall and their four teenagers had just brought the 2-year-old dog Tuesday to their Saginaw Township home on Emerick near Vincent after picking her up from the Midland kennel that bred her.
Skittish in her new surroundings, Hannah bumped into the Halls' bird cage holding three cockatiels and got spooked by mily members in pursuit. They followed her footprints in the snow for about a mile before losing the trail, then drove around the neighborhood searching for her.
''We were out with flashlights. It was way after dark,'' Hall said.
Where she spent Tuesday night is anybody's guess. However, Hall said he was relieved to find that Hannah was the Rottweiler that Charles Buriel rescued from her wintry swim. Buriel had hoped to adopt the dog.
''The second Hannah ran away, we put ads on Craig's List (an online classifieds listing) and we called the Saginaw County and Midland County animal shelters every couple of hours,'' he said.
Veterinarians at St. Charles Animal Clinic gave Hannah a clean bill of health Friday, Hall said.
Evy Lynn Wyman, Hannah's breeder and owner of Wyman Kennels, said she, too, is thankful for Buriel.
''This guy had the heart to do that for Hannah,'' she said.
She plans to call Buriel and offer him Hannah's brother, Walker.
''He needs a dog,'' she said. ''He'd be perfect for Walker.''