Phoenix Police officer spots drowning dog, AHS crews rush to save her life
PHOENIX (KSAZ) - A stray puppy looking for some relief in the heat fell into a Phoenix canal while trying to drink water. But after some tense minutes, a hero spotted her and came to the rescue.
This was how it ended.
An exhausted, 1-year-old puppy, lying seemingly lifeless on the side of this canal, barely holding on to life.
"She just was completely deflated and lethargic and wouldn't move," said Ashliegh Goebel of the Arizona Humane Society.
Her heroes by her side and one of them was a police officer on patrol. He spotted the drowning dog first and rushed to try and help.
"He was ready to just jump in and even though those canal currents can be very strong and he was ready to jump in and save her, but thankfully he called us," Goebel said.
Goebel says it's that officer's call to their emergency medical rescue team that kept this little dog alive.
But the process wasn't an easy one.
"Actually, the police officer was hanging onto the belt loop of the EMT as he leaned over the canal trying to rescue her with the catch pole and every time she kept floating right by," she said.
As the puppy started giving up, sinking into the canal's murky water, they were finally able to bring her out and now, two days later, she's making amazing strides towards recovery.
"She's starting to stand up and walk around her kennel, and she's definitely getting better and stronger every day," Goebel said.
She didn't have a collar and no one could find a microchip, but unless someone comes forward the good news is she already has a new owner.
"Once she's made that full recovery, the police officer who originally spotted her wants to make her part of his family," Goebel said.
That may just be the perfect way for this to end with a dog finding her forever home with the man who saved her life.
That humble police officer wants to remain anonymous.
Although the Arizona Humane Society believes the puppy is a stray, if you recognize her and believe she's yours, give them a call at 602-997-7585 Ext. 3800 or e-mail: petresourcecenter@azhumane.org.