Deputy Rescues 10-Year-Old Dog From Satellite Beach Canal
A Brevard County sheriff's deputy pulled an exhausted 10-year-old dog named Mae from a Satellite Beach canal before dawn and reunited her with her owner.
A routine predawn patrol in Satellite Beach turned into a rescue when a Brevard County Sheriff's Office deputy spotted a dog struggling behind a canal-front dock.
Deputy Thomas Jenkinson entered the water and pulled the exhausted dog to safety. The 10-year-old, named Mae, was reunited with her owner later that morning.
It was a quiet ending to the kind of situation that can become dangerous quickly along Brevard's waterfront neighborhoods.
A canal can become a trap
Canals are part of everyday life in Satellite Beach, but their seawalls and docks are often designed for boats—not for an older dog trying to climb out of the water.
A pet that slips or wanders into a canal may find no gradual shoreline, ladder or low bank. Even a strong swimmer can tire while moving along a vertical seawall looking for a way back onto land. For a senior dog such as Mae, time matters even more.
Jenkinson found her around 5 a.m., before most residents were awake. After getting Mae onto solid ground, he checked her condition and began working to identify her owner.
Home before the morning was over
Mae did not spend the day waiting at a shelter or animal-services facility. Jenkinson located her family and brought her home that same morning.
The reunion is a reminder of how much local public-safety work happens outside the calls residents typically associate with a sheriff's deputy. One hour may involve traffic enforcement or an emergency response. The next may involve climbing into a canal for a frightened animal.
Satellite Beach's waterfront neighborhoods include canals, docks and seawalls that can be difficult for an animal to escape. Photo by Michael Seeley, CC BY 2.0.
What to do when an animal is struggling
Residents who see an animal in immediate danger should contact local public safety rather than entering unfamiliar water alone. Canal edges can be slippery, depths may be difficult to judge and a frightened animal may react unpredictably while someone is trying to help.
For non-emergency animal concerns, the Sheriff's Office operates Brevard County Animal Services and maintains information about its Animal Enforcement Unit.
Mae's story ended with a wet dog, a relieved owner and a deputy who did not drive past when he saw something was wrong. Sometimes that is all a good-news story needs.
Sources and useful links
Stephen Garcia
Stephen covers Brevard's wildlife, parks, science, launches, and aerospace workforce. He is drawn to the people doing technical or conservation work behind the scenes — and to explaining why that work matters close to home.
_P001.jpg?width=1600)