Aussie Model Saves Dog!! Read!!
At the end of 2009, a Maltese-Shitzu mix fell off the pier into the water in Australia. Out of all the passer-by, a 20 year old model braved the waters to save this little mumu!!
Raden Soemawinata a part time model was at the pier with his family to scatter his grandmama’s ashes into the bay. He saw the little dog jump into the water and followed him in! Not many people would do the same, and it’s amazing how fast he reacted. He didn’t wait for anyone to ask him to go in….he heard the dog’s owner scream and he jumped right in to help!
The waters that day was reportedly quite choppy and the weather quite wild…very few people would put their own life at risk to save any animal..especially if it’s not their pet.
Australians recognized what a good citizen Raden was by doing what he did…and Animals Australia even gave him a Compassionate Citizen Award! Animals Australia represents more than 40 societies and thousands of individual members in the country, so it’s quite a big deal!
You can see from the photos how the Maltese-Shitzu’s (called Bibi) owner was so distraught and traumatized by the incident….in the photo you can see her crying and visibly upset. How good for her that someone like Raden was around at that time.
This is such a good pick-me-up after seeing the young teenager throwing puppies into the water!
Thank you Raden for being such wonderful person. You inspire so many and give hope that you can put yourself out of the way for another. May you Raden have a good life and become very successful to help society back later…
Tsem Tulku
Little Bibi trying to stay afloat in the water
Little Bibi looking very tired after wading around for a while
Photo of Bibi from a distance
Raden preparing to jump in. He takes off his pants so that it’s easier for him to swim..
Raden maneuvering himself steadily into the water..
Raden grabs hold of Bibi, she’s in safe hands!!
Raden looking tired from swimming, passes Bibi over to her owner!!
You can see how upset and grateful she is! Poor Bibi and poor owner.
How sweet, she throws one arms onto Raden…and in the other she doesn’t want to let go of Bibi! Raden is my hero. Thank you Raden for being such wonderful human being. Thank you so much.
Raden getting the Compassionate Citizen Award. Bibi is in the photo too!!
Little Bibi so super cute and posing with her owner after the whole ordeal
What a great story! In a world that has steadily grown to be insensitive to others’ needs, this is indeed heart warming. What prompts a person to put his own situation at risk to save a animal? It can only be compassion…But i am quite sure everyone there felt a certain degree of compassion and pity. The differece here is that Raden’s compassion was quickly followed by a resolute decision to act. Thank you Raden for upholding hope for a kinder world.
Incidentally, the pix of Bibi in the choppy sea reminds me of myself before i met the Dharma.
What a heart warming story!
OMG it certainly does restore your faith that there some decent and wonderful young people in this world!!! both little Bibi and Raden are so cute, what a sweet story.
How touching!!! Such beautiful photos, thank you very much!!!
Compassion in action !
Raden truly deserve the award and more. Rinpoche is correct to observe that most of us will not respond unless one has strong love for animals ,had been asked to or if the animal has some association with us. Even those who are in a position to respond , by being there and able to swim ,may take too long to decide and it may be too late by then.
Raden if you are reading this, I salute you for your courage and altruistic deed.
Such a heart warming story which gives hope!!! Thank you Rinpoche for posting this up. Bibi must have been a great companion to the owner. May they have many, many more years of joyous friendship, all made possible by Raden. What a lovely picture of Raden, bibi and the owner. Bravo Raden!
If Raden Soemawinta a part time model in Australia were to be a Buddhist he would believe in collecting merits. He would have collected merits for his grandma whose ashes he and his family were at the pier to throw his grandma’s ashes. The way Raden acted by jumping into the water and saving the dog called Bibi was very spontaneous without hesitation. This shows the compassion he has for this little doggie to live. Or maybe in the past lives the dog would have some connection with him. For such a young lad of 20 years old, others would not think about doing this kind of virtues deeds. He was even commended by Australia who gave him the Compassionate Citizen Award.
It is always nice to see beautiful people who are also soft and beautiful inside. I am really touched and it is stories like this should be made popular and well-known as society and people these days needs better role models. It is very nice to see Raden act bravely but what is ever nicer to see him inspire more Radens out there and especially towards animals, which don’t have much of a means to express the suffering that they experience.
touching … touching.. touching… We should do this in our life
Rinpoche,
very very touching. i almost cried (tears were filling up already) when i saw the pic of the owner threw her arm around Raden. and yes it is really a good pick-me-up from that video
Thanks Rinpoche!
Karma is said to be the “creator” of both good and bad, irrespective. Karma is certain, in that positive karma brings happiness, whereas negative karma brings sufferings. So whatever action the aussie model has done in jumping into the choppy sea to save the poor frightened dog, is not only heroic, but also a display of virtuous action of love and compassion which will be rewarded by happiness. There is no effect without cause. So it is important to practise all positive actions as always advocated by our Lama, as these actions will bring us various forms of happiness and good conditions and ultimately, the greatest happiness of all, that of ENLIGHTENMENT. You rightly deserved the commendation certificate presented to you by Animal Australia, Raden, and all the praises showered on you, but most of all the dog’s indebtedness to you for saving his life.
What a great story! Thank you for sharing that story, Rinpoche. I hope that Raden Soemawinata will live for a long time since Raden Soemawinata shown that he cares about animals!
Raden is a great role model for us who unhesitatingly went into save the dog. Rescues can be very risky business. Great work Raden may you inspire many people to be always kind to animals and care for them.
The most beautiful people are those who are beautiful inside and outside. How many would have hesitated to rescued the dog because of the cold water? Or fumbled about looking for someone to help, when they could’ve helped themselves? Or been one of the people in the fourth picture, just looking on, worried for the dog but not having the capacity to do anything? His grandmother would be very proud to have such a naturally kind grandson!