MIAMI (WSVN) — Crews came to the rescue of a dog found stranded under a bridge, near the Rickenbacker Causeway, Monday morning.
Miami Fire Rescue responded to the scene under the William Powell Bridge, just after 9 a.m. Officials said the dog was on a bridge pylon and was not moving, seeming calm and collected.
Miami Fire Rescue diver Lt. Jose Almeida attempted to retrieve the canine, but she became aggressive. "We made our way out there," he said, "did our necessary safety equipment and swam out. As soon as we got to the dog, he became extremely aggressive, and apparently he didn’t want to get rescued that day."
The diver got her to jump into the water. She then swam to shore and took off running. "We coaxed him into the water," said Almeida, "and then basically, I’d like to tell you I rescued him, but I chased him back to shore, where he gave me a thank you by running off into the mangroves."
Officials are confident they will find the dog. "It was a female, and she did look pregnant, so we have contacted animals services, and hopefully they’ll narrow it down," said Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Jose Almeida. "We’re on an island, so she can’t get too far."
The firefighters have since contacted animal rescue, in the hopes that they will be able to track her down.