For those who dedicate their lives to animal rescue, the job is never just a checklist of duties. It is a purpose driven by empathy, bravery, and a readiness to step into danger when a life is on the line.
That same mindset defines the Jacksonville ACPS team in Florida. When an urgent call came in about a Pit Bull stranded along the edge of the Myrtle Avenue bridge, there was no debate or delay.
Still, nothing could have prepared them for what they were about to face.
A Rescue Balanced On The Edge
The moment officers arrived, the seriousness of the situation was impossible to miss. The dog had been stuck on a razor-thin ledge of the bridge for more than twelve hours, perched only inches away from a deadly drop below.
There was no equipment that could simplify the rescue. The only option was to carefully leash her and physically lift her to safety.
Every movement carried risk, and her response was impossible to predict.
Her posture told the story before she ever moved. She was not just scared, she was completely frozen in terror.
Cars thundered past them, wind whipped across the bridge, and the structure itself vibrated beneath their feet.
Officer Cooper and two other officers understood that a single misstep could end in tragedy. Every second demanded patience and precision.
“I had to take a few breaths. I knew this was a very dangerous situation. The wind was blowing the bridge, every car that passed by, you could feel the bumps,” Kyle told The Dodo.
They spoke to her in calm, steady voices as they slowly moved closer.
Against all odds, she did not panic or try to flee. She stayed perfectly still, as if she somehow understood they were trying to save her.
Cooper gently placed a leash around her neck and secured her muzzle. Another officer positioned a catch pole, and together they carefully lifted her off the ledge and into safety.
“The officers were able to rescue this terrified dog in an incredibly humane, gentle way, getting her to safety as quickly as possible,” Jacksonville ACPS shared on social media.
They named her Myrtle, a tribute to the bridge where she had clung to life. Once secure, she gradually began to relax, taking in her surroundings and realizing the danger had passed.
With time, Myrtle’s real personality began to surface. She turned affectionate and playful, rolling onto her back for belly rubs whenever someone came near.
Even after a heartworm diagnosis, her bright spirit never wavered.
A Home Waiting On The Other Side
Myrtle’s calm demeanor and sweet nature quickly won people over.
Before the shelter even had the chance to share much of her story, a family stepped forward, ready to give her a home.
“It didn’t take long until she won the hearts of her AMAZING new family. They’re not only welcoming her into their home (at whatever pace she needs), but will be giving her extra TLC as she undergoes heartworm treatment,” the shelter wrote.
Now, Myrtle is flourishing. She greets each day with the same quiet strength she showed on that bridge, wrapped in love, security, and the family she was always meant to have.