BRYAN EATON/Staff Photo. Caught in a strong current while swimming off Joppa Flats last weekend, Patrick Mulligan began wondering if he would ever see his two sons again. That's when his 22-month old Black Labrador, Vader, jumped into the water and paddled close enough to Mulligan so he could grab the dog's life preserve handle. That action likely prevented Mulligan from drowning within sight of his two sons, Luca, 9, left, and Ryan, 12.

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