Serving as a police officer is no easy task. Every day brings risks, challenges, and unpredictable moments.
Yet, the job isn’t only about arresting criminals or assisting people in danger. Sometimes, officers find themselves rescuing a helpless animal fighting for its life. The hero of this story faced exactly that situation.
Faint Whines Lead Deputies To A Shocking Discovery
Deputies James Gettings and Troy Glover were delivering civil process paperwork to a residence in Fort Pierce, Florida.
As they were leaving, they suddenly froze. A weak, distressed cry carried from nearby, and the sound demanded their attention.
According to a statement shared on the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, the men traced the noise to a septic drain on an abandoned lot.
What they found left them stunned. A tiny dog, drenched and trembling, was stuck neck-deep in the collapsed drain, with only his head visible above the surface.
Reacting quickly, the officers rushed to help. The frightened pup resisted when approached, but using a catch pole, they managed to carefully pull him out of the dangerous pit.
Shaking and terrified, the dog needed comfort. The deputies gently bathed him, repeating the wash several times until he relaxed a little.
They knew they could not simply walk away. They had to figure out his future.
Deputy Gettings Makes A Life-Changing Choice
The first step was to canvas the neighborhood, hoping to locate his owner. But despite their efforts, no one recognized the puppy.
At that moment, Gettings felt strongly that the dog should not be sent to a shelter. Acting on instinct, he declared he wanted to adopt the animal, convinced it was meant to be.
Time proved him right. After receiving care for his injured back legs, the pup, now named Puddle, finally had a safe home.
There, he was warmly welcomed by Gettings’ wife, Rachael, their two-year-old daughter, Evelyn, and their basset hound, Lacie.
“He mostly likes to lounge around,” the deputy said in an interview for The Daily Mail. “He loves being home.”
Now called Puddle, the once-trapped puppy has the love of a family and the comfort of a forever home where he belongs.