Early on a Sunday morning, Officer Trent Hullinger of the Fort Wayne Police Department was patrolling the city when a call came in from a concerned citizen.
The caller reported something unusual near a pond by a local park in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Something black was visible, partially submerged in the icy water, and loud barking could be heard echoing from the area.
Hullinger, suspecting what might be happening, quickly drove to the location, hoping he wasn’t too late.
A Hero in Uniform
As Officer Hullinger approached the park, he saw not one, but two black shapes at the edge of the pond. The closer he got, the louder the barking became.
When he arrived, it became clear that the cries for help were coming from two black Labradors, desperately clinging to the concrete edge of the pond.
The dogs were unable to pull themselves out of the freezing water.
The police department later wrote, “Both dogs appeared to be unable to get themselves out of the water, their heads and front paws clinging to the concrete edging surrounding the pond.”
With the temperature at a chilling 34 degrees Fahrenheit, the dogs were shivering, but they bravely stayed by each other’s side, holding on until help arrived.
The Rescue
Officer Hullinger approached carefully and extended his hands to help. First, he pulled one Labrador out of the freezing water, who quickly shook off the cold and began circling around his rescuer, full of gratitude.
Moments later, the second Labrador was also lifted to safety, and both dogs, now excited and relieved, followed Hullinger to solid ground.
Toward a Better Future
After the successful rescue, Hullinger contacted Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control.
The two Labs were taken into their care, and though it remained unclear how the dogs ended up in the water, one thing was certain: the officer’s timely intervention had saved their lives.
“We are happy the officer was able to rescue them before their health declined,” a spokesperson for Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control told The Dodo.
Efforts to locate the dogs’ owner were unsuccessful, so the Labradors were taken to the city’s animal shelter to recover. Thankfully, they were found to be in good health after their ordeal.
“If no one claims them, these two brave Labradors will soon be ready for adoption,” the shelter spokesperson said.
The hope is that they’ll find a loving home together, just as they stayed by each other’s side in their darkest moment.
With any luck, these resilient dogs will soon find their forever home—together.