Man Floats With 19-Year-Old Elderly Dog Every Day To Ease His Pain
Human–animal bond
The Story Behind the Viral Photo of John Unger and His Dog Schoep
It’s often said that a dog is a man’s best friend, but for John Unger, that bond ran deeper than friendship—it was a lifeline.
You may have come across the moving photograph of a man holding his dog while floating in the water. Fewer people know the story behind that image.
How Their Story Began
John, from Bayfield, Wisconsin, adopted Schoep as a puppy after rescuing him from an abusive situation. He named him after a beloved Wisconsin ice-cream brand, and the two quickly became inseparable.
Comfort in the Water
At nineteen, Schoep developed advanced arthritis that made rest difficult. John discovered that the buoyancy of water eased the pressure on Schoep’s joints, offering rare relief from constant pain. Determined to help, he carried Schoep into Lake Superior—one of the dog’s favorite places—whenever summer temperatures allowed, staying by his side until the old pup relaxed enough to sleep.
Catching a Fleeting Moment
Wanting to preserve their ritual, John asked his friend Hannah Stonehouse Hudson of Stonehouse Photography to document it. The session almost didn’t happen, but when it finally did, she had only minutes to shoot. What she captured wasn’t posed—it was pure trust.
“We had been trying to arrange the session for weeks, but it kept getting delayed. When we finally met, I had just five minutes to shoot. What I captured wasn’t posed—it was pure trust. Schoep felt safe enough to sleep in John’s arms, and John’s love for him was unmistakable.”
A Photo That Traveled the World
The image quickly went viral and appeared in news outlets across the globe. Moved by their story, people donated to help John explore additional treatments to ease Schoep’s pain.
Love That Lingers
Though Schoep has since passed away, the photograph—and the devotion it represents—continues to resonate. It’s a quiet reminder that the most powerful acts of kindness are often the simplest.