Couple on Sailboat Hears Dog Crying in Distance, Finds Puppy Alone on Deserted Island
Meet Captain Joel and Dr. Sheddy, a couple on a mission to help animals and communities worldwide. They sail around the world together in their sailboat, providing free veterinary care to vulnerable populations.
Sheddy is a self-proclaimed “vet gone wild.” From childhood, she knew she wanted to become a vet.
In 2006, Sheddy met her soulmate, Captain Joel, at school. Joel had a passion of his own, sailing, and had been saving for his own boat since he was 16 years old.
They decided to pursue their dreams together, combining three of their biggest passions: traveling, sailing, and animal care.
The couple documents their adventures and shares them online, giving people a window into their unique life.
One day, while relaxing in their boat, the couple heard the faint cries of what sounded like a puppy. They rowed to the nearby deserted island to investigate.
Sure enough, a hot and tired pup came bounding down the shore, eager for affection. Sheddy scooped the puppy up into her arms and gave him a quick inspection.
His paws were raw, she said, from running on the hot sand. Sheddy gave the pup a quick snack and a drink, while Joel rowed to the closest inhabited island.
Sheddy explained the likely circumstances surrounding the puppy’s predicament. During extremely low tide, the two islands are connected, and the puppy likely ran across and found himself unable to return as the tide began to rise.
Once they reached the nearby island, Sheddy and Joel began the task of trying to locate the puppy’s family.
They eventually did find them and learned the pup had been missing for four days.
Sheddy was thrilled to be able to reunite the puppy with his family. “You’re home!” she squealed, scratching his head with affection.
Sheddy and Joel sailed away, off to help other animals in rough predicaments. They are hopeful their stories will inspire others to help animals, experience new cultures, and dream big.
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