Florida cops hear frantic barks from a storm drain — swoop in to save dog missing for days
Owning a dog is all fun until they come up with a million ideas to escape home for their bizarre adventures. They don't understand danger like we do, and that explains why most of them end up in deadly situations. While many are lucky to be rescued just in time, others meet a gruesome end. A similar distressing situation unfolded when Deputy Kayla Kanarick, from the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office (Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office on Facebook), responded to an unusual call from a concerned passerby. The caller reported hearing "frantic barks" of a dog stuck in a storm drain, which eventually led to a heartwarming rescue mission.
When Deputy Kanarick arrived at the spot, she, too, could hear the dog's helpless cry for help, echoing from deep inside the storm drain. "The heavy metal cover over the drain made it impossible for her to access the trapped pup. That’s when Sergeant Leland Schoonmaker and Corporal Ceaser Romero stepped in to help," the officials revealed. Fortunately, the rescue team somehow managed to lift the huge metal grate and pull the dog to safety. Now, the dog was wearing a collar but had no identifying information. So, even though the team was relieved to have rescued the poor pup, they still had to find their rightful owner. Deputy Kanarick turned to social media, searching for the rescue dog's owner.
As expected, she stumbled upon a post from Miss Catherine Celeste, a resident of Heritage Village, who had reported about her missing dog, Swetie. As per the post, the dog had escaped home since New Year's Eve, possibly frightened by fireworks in the area. "Meanwhile, Sergeant Schoonmaker managed to contact a local, Denis Cauchon, who happened to know Catherine personally," they revealed. Denis reached out to Catherine, who was, of course, overjoyed with the news, and permitted him to look after her dog until she made arrangements for homecoming. "In the end, what began as an ordinary day on duty turned into something extraordinary. Thanks to the swift actions and dedication of Deputy Kanarick, Sergeant Schoonmaker, and Corporal Romero, a frightened dog was saved, and a family was made whole again," read the Facebook post.
"In a world often filled with tough moments, it’s good to be reminded that kindness, teamwork, and a little persistence can still lead to happy endings," the officials added, praising the team for the puppy's timely rescue. Let's say Catherine was fortunate that she could reunite with her missing dog, but not all pet owners get to experience it. As shocking as it may sound, a report by Jackson Back Home, citing the American Humane Association, notes that nearly 10 million dogs and cats go missing, either lost or stolen, in the United States alone.
So, if you, too, are a pet parent whose pet often leaves the house without informing you, then you must consider microchipping them. This, in simple words, means implanting a small microchip containing a unique identification number under the animal's skin. Now, this special number is linked to the rightful owner's contact information in a database, helping lost pets return home. Though this might not fully guarantee your pet's safety, it definitely adds an invisible protective layer to them.