Park Police officer saves drowning dog

[MrScorpio]

By Martin Weil
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, July 19, 2010
A U.S. Park Police detective put her pistol aside Sunday afternoon and jumped into the murky waters of the Washington Channel to save a drowning dog, police said.

Although dogs are generally capable of swimming, this one, known as Scout, appeared in distress, possibly connected to the heat of the day, said Sgt. David Schlosser, a Park Police spokesman.

"The dog was having severe difficulties in swimming," he said.

The matter began to unfold about 2:30 p.m., according to Schlosser, when another Park Police officer spotted the animal in the East Potomac Park area as the officer was heading to the police station there.

The dog, which Schlosser described as a border collie, seemed to "wander in distress" near Ohio and Buckeye drives, he said.

After the officer got to the nearby station, she and others returned to Ohio Drive to pick up Scout, the spokesman said.

But the dog, which was "clearly suffering from some heat issues," appeared unwilling to be taken into custody, Schlosser said.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/18/AR2010071803460.html

[GSLevel9]

1. story of the day, thanks!! nt

[xchrom]

2. Awesome. Nt

[Politicalboi]

3. Great story

But this concerns me.

She said the owner was contacted and took the dog home, although hospital staff members advised against it.

What kind of an owner is this person? I hope the dog is alright.

[liberalla]

4. You are so right. I wonder if they can do a follow up on the dog.

I hope he's OK.

[noamnety]

5. Likely it's the sort of person

who doesn't have extra hundreds of dollars lying around, and maybe has to chose between a huge vet bill and paying the mortgage.

[misanthrope]

7. They also had the dog unleashed in public, so I have my doubts...

...it's merely a matter of economics.

[noamnety]

9. The dog may have escaped

who knows? I don't feel like I know enough about the situation to be judging people, but maybe you've read other accounts of it or have some other background info.

[roguevalley]

6. between this and the leopard/mouse story my day is good. :)

[Cresent City Kid]

8. I once saw a dog save another dog

I was on a construction site after a big rain and a dog was stuck in the mud in a deep puddle. I would have helped, but there was no need, a dog at the edge of the puddle grabbed the distressed dog by the scruff of the neck and pulled him/her to safety. Should I be surprised to see more compassion in a pack of stray dogs than in say, Ben Nelson?

[Uncle Joe]

10. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, MrScorpio.:thumbsup: