When dogs find themselves in difficult situations and can’t see a way out, they rely on kind humans to notice them. Since they cannot call for help, they wait and hope someone sees their struggle.
That was the reality for one dog who was stranded in an aqueduct.
He stood frozen on a narrow ledge. All he could see was the rushing water under him. The harsh noise made him even more terrified.
Will anyone find him before it’s too late?
A Disturbing Sight In The Aqueduct
While the dog was experiencing the worst moments of his life, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department was conducting an aerial search near the California Aqueduct in Phelan, California.
Fortunately, the crew saw that an animal had been stranded in the water.
As the helicopter circled, it became clear that a dog was trapped on a concrete ledge. The crew quickly contacted San Bernardino County Fire for help.
Firefighter Robert responded to the call right away.
“There was a dog stuck in the aqueduct in a pretty precarious position,” he told The Dodo.
They quickly devised a plan, making sure that everyone was safe.
Specialized teams arrived with equipment designed for swift water rescues.
Firefighters climbed over the railing and moved closer to the dog. They could see how shaken he was.
The pup felt both hopeful and hesitant when he saw the rescuers.
He watched every movement, trying to figure out their intentions.
“He was pretty apprehensive to get next to him. Obviously, there’s some fear and anxiety issues there and some trust issues,” Robert shared.
Trust Built One Moment At A Time
One firefighter stayed close to the dog, giving him time to understand he was not a threat.
The dog hesitated for a few moments, but then he decided to trust the firefighter and allowed him to touch him.
“Eventually, my firefighter was able to pet him and then they ended up snuggling him in his lap, which was a really good sign of trust,” Robert added.
Since the dog relaxed, the firefighters fitted a specialty harness around his body and lifted him away from the water.
“We put a specialty harness onto the dog, and once it was nice and snug, we ended up lifting him up from the water line over the safety railing and carried him away from his water’s edge,” Robert said.
Once he was on solid ground, the dog’s worries disappeared, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Firefighters gathered around him and cuddled with him, reassuring him that everything would be alright.
“We all consoled and pet the dog. We’re very happy to provide such a good outcome for everyone,” Robert said.
It turned out that the pup had a family. His mom had been desperately looking for him and she had reported him missing earlier that day.
Both the pup and his mom were overjoyed to be reunited.
San Bernardino County Fire later shared the rescue online, acknowledging the joint effort that made it possible.
Battalion Chief Sean Solis said, “This rescue highlights the adaptability of our firefighters and the importance of interagency coordination. We are grateful for the Sheriff’s Aviation crew spotting the animal and helping us bring it to safety.”
The department also reminded residents to keep their pets away from aqueducts and fast-moving water. Luckily, this dog’s ordeal ended with a happy ending.