First responders in Oregon are giving a dog a second chance at life after rescuing her from a dangerous situation.
On Saturday, Feb. 28, the City of Happy Valley confirmed in a Facebook release that the Happy Valley Police Department and the Clackamas Fire Department worked together to rescue the dog, whom they named Sweetie. The rescuers described her as “truly a survivor” after pulling her from a heavily vegetated water-retention pond.
Sweetie had wandered into an enclosed one-acre pond area filled with dense blackberry bushes, cattails, and waist-high water. Despite being scared, injured, cold, and exhausted, officials said the dog “kept fighting” to survive.
With the help of a drone equipped with thermal-imaging technology, the fire department located Sweetie standing in nearly two feet of water, hidden in thick brush.
Although the frightened dog initially evaded several rescue attempts, first responders were eventually able to capture her and take her to VCA Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Clackamas. There, she was treated for superficial wounds and exposure to the harsh conditions.
In an update on Sunday, March 1, the City of Happy Valley shared that Sweetie was surrounded by support from the community and had received a clean bill of health from the veterinary clinic.
After leaving the vet, Sweetie was treated to a bit of pampering with a spa day before spending time at the city’s office.
Since she was not licensed or microchipped, Sweetie’s identity remains unknown. She will be transferred to Clackamas County Dog Services, where she will be placed up for adoption in the coming days.
City officials say that despite the mystery surrounding her past, one thing is clear: Sweetie is incredibly strong to have survived such harsh and difficult conditions.
“Our Director shared that she is incredibly sweet, loving, and will make a wonderful companion for a lucky family,” the release said.