Rescuing Rudolf

Four-year-old Nico Lavallée loves his stuffed deer named Rudolf. 

In fact, he rarely lets it out of his sight – so Nico was understandably distraught when, on a family walk along the Rideau Canal, his younger brother impulsively grabbed the deer and tossed the stuffie into the frozen water below. 

• Unable to reach the surface below them, the boys' mom, Brenda, heartbrokenly told Nico that Rudolf may be stuck for good. 

🦌 Holding out hope... Nico's older brother ended up saving the day when he suggested that Brenda post about the lost deer on their town's Facebook page. 

• "I didn't want to bother anyone. I don't think anyone would care," she said at first. But suggestions quickly came pouring in, and Rudolf was rescued, defrosted, and returned to Nico a few days later.