Police Officer Rescues Dog Trapped in River

Residents living along the Hillsborough River in Seminole Heights heard noises in the dark Friday night, but couldn’t quite figure out where they were coming from.

In Saturday morning’s light, the source was clear. A dog had managed to get itself stuck in the Hillsborough River.

Swinging into action, the neighbors flagged down a police officer to help the trapped dog. Master Patrol Officer Randy Lopez donned a pair of waders and dove in to assist.

With a little help from residents, Lopez was able to “rescue the scared boy, who is covered in bug bites and has bloody paws,” the Tampa Police Department said on its Facebook page Saturday.

All the commotion in the neighborhood caught the attention of the dog’s owners, a police department spokeswoman said. The dog, named White Boy, was reunited with his family a little soggy, but none too worse for the wear.

This isn’t the first time this summer police officers in the Bay area have demonstrated that protecting and serving sometimes includes fuzzy, furry and even feathered creatures. Back in July, Sarasota Police saved a baby duck stuck in a drainage ditch.

Photo Credit: Master Patrol Officer Randy Lopez rescues White Boy/Photo courtesy of the Tampa Police Department

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Sarasota Police Save Baby Duck