The dog that retrieved the geese had run out onto the ice when the ice cracked and he fell in. According to witnesses, Kitterman belly-crawled onto the ice and was able to pull the dog back out of the water. he was able to pull the dog back onto the ice, but the dog went in again after his owner. His friends tried to help and were able to pull the dog out of the water and into a canoe. Social media expressed their sorrow towards the young man and expressed how proud they were that Kitterman had been so loyal to his dog.