Missing hunting dog rescued from Mississippi River after community

MONTPELIER, Iowa — A beloved black lab named Waylon is back home safe after disappearing into the Mississippi River during a hunting trip Sunday morning.

Waylon, nearly five years old, went missing after swimming into the river to retrieve a wounded goose while out with his owner, Eric Gaines.

“They say you get one good bird dog in a lifetime, and I think that's Waylon for me,” Gaines said.

Gaines and his friend Tom Davis were hunting in Montpelier, Iowa, along the river. They shot two geese. One of the birds survived the initial hit, prompting Waylon to swim after it.

“We had two dogs. One dog got the bird that was closest, and Waylon decided to swim out for that goose that was crippled,” Gaines said.

Waylon swam too far out to hear Gaines calling him back.

“Some boats were flying d