Round of A-Paws: UPS Driver Heroically Saves Dogs From Pool Colin Mitchell was dropping off packages on his route in Iowa when he heard noises coming from the backyard.

By Emily Rella Edited by Jessica Thomas

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Alex Wong/Getty Images
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Paws up for this one!

A UPS driver made a life-saving decision while delivering packages this week in rural Iowa.

Driver Colin Mitchell was dropping off packages in Ireton, Iowa when he heard noises coming from the backyard, KTIV reported.

Mitchell noticed two dogs swimming around in the above-ground backyard pool and tried to notify the homeowners, only to find that no one was home.

In a classic case of trusting your gut, Mitchell said that he "didn't feel right" getting back into the truck, so he went over to check on the dogs and saw that they were trapped under the pool's solar cover.

Mitchell was able to rescue the pups, Groot and Remy, and let them out before continuing on his way.

The dogs are reportedly happy and healthy, and the owners thanked Mitchell for his help, noting that they didn't come home until hours after the ordeal.

Entrepreneur has reached out to UPS for comment.

Related: Pizza Delivery Driver Sues Friends Over $1 Million Lottery Win

UPS drivers often meet precious pups on their routes; there's even a 30,000-person dedicated Facebook page for drivers to post photos of the four-legged friends they make while on the clock.

Mitchell's story was posted in the group, where he was praised as a "hero" by dog-lovers and fellow drivers alike.

"Hats off to him," one Facebook user wrote.

We'll raise our brown hats to Mitchell's lifesaving actions any day!

Related: Amazon Delivery Driver Rattled After Having to Make 180 Stops in One Day

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

What the FTC's 'Click-to-Cancel' Rule Means for Merchants

Subscriptions are easy to start but often difficult to cancel, leading frustrated consumers to seek chargebacks due to confusing cancellation policies. The FTC's new "click-to-cancel" rule mandates that cancellation must be as straightforward as sign-up, potentially reducing chargebacks and improving customer satisfaction.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Zillow Predicts These 10 Places Will Have the Hottest Housing Markets in 2025

Zillow predicted that the hottest housing market of 2025 will be Buffalo, New York. Here's why.

Business Culture

It's Time to Rewrite Your Company's Values — Here's How

Most companies' values are forgotten or disconnected from daily operations. By rethinking and co-creating values with your team, you can transform them into actionable tools that align behavior, build trust and drive performance.

Business Solutions

Say Hello to the PDF Multi-Tool You Didn't Know You Needed

Get lifetime access to UPDF for just $47.99—the best price online right now.

Science & Technology

5 AI Books Top Entrepreneurs Are Reading in a Rush for 2025

Entrepreneurs must embrace AI or risk falling behind. Discover 2025's top 5 AI books to gain a competitive edge, featuring insights from "The Wolf is at the Door" and a free AI Success Kit.