"Hero" Dog Who Rescued Kids From Drowning to Earn Beef Reward Turns Out to Be Culprit in Disguise

Dogs are mankind's best friend. Canine loyalty to their human pals is undeniable, and countless stories of their love circulate the internet.

According to The New York Times, in 1908, a Parisian dog rescued several kids who drowned in the river Seine. A hero, indeed. But in disguise.

This incredible story of deception begins with the dog hearing a boy who had fallen into the river scream for help. The canine, owned by a man who lived near the Seine riverbanks, leaped over the hedge and tracked down the source of the cries. The Newfoundland dog dived into the river and brought the child out safely. The boy's father expressed his gratitude and rewarded the dog's bravery by offering him a big slab of meat.

However, it was soon revealed that the dog's heroism was a facade. The incidents of drowning became a regular thing. A few days later, a second child drowned in the Seine, and the dog plunged into deep waters and led the kid safely to the shores.

He soon became the knight in shining armor for children playing near the river. The brave canine continued his rescue operations until one day, someone sniffed a "clever conspiracy."

People noticed that it could not be a coincidence for kids to be drowning in the river every other day. Initially, the neighborhood suspected a wandering criminal who was targeting kids. They even turned their gratitude to the dog who happened to be present at the accident "all the time" and saved the kids. However, the mystery soon unraveled to reveal the savior himself as the culprit.

People noticed a pattern in how this meat-loving canine was present near the accident site. A matter of chance or a plotted scheme? Upon close introspection, it turned out that the brave dog was a classic example of Pavlovian conditioning.

Beefsteak was his reward every time he saved a child from drowning. So, the sharp canine had associated child rescues with a way to get beefsteaks. Hence the dog found a plan to roam around the river bank. Whenever the dog saw a child playing, he purposely pushed the kid into the river and rescued him.

The New York Times published the story with a scandalous headline, "Dog A Fake Hero - Pushes Children Into the Seine to Rescue Them and Win Beefsteaks."

According to them, "whenever he saw a playing child on the edge of the stream, he promptly knocked it into the water."

This 1908 NYT story resurfaced on Twitter on July 30, 2021, and intrigued people. They had opinions, and one Twitter user, @grootdawid, wrote, "Pavlov gone wrong." Another Twitter user, @RobertL62790462, compared the crafty canine's antics with American dogs and said, "American dogs would never do that."

The story was also discussed on Reddit, where a user, @HiveMindKing, commented, "It is like the plot of 'Watchmen."

Fact or fiction, the story has divided people into two differing viewpoints. Some questioned the dog's intentions, while others embraced a pragmatic approach and believed the dog to be clever enough to generate profitable returns for himself. Matt Nelson, the founder of the popular WeRateDogs, made a rather interesting video about this sly canine. Check it out here: