When you are on the verge of a difficult situation, having a companion makes a lot of difference from handling the situation alone.
Even the presence of a so-called “guardian angel” can make you feel secure in pressing times.
Be inspired by the story of a stranded dog and his manatee guard.
During one of their rescue operation, a Tampa police officer was able to capture a heartwarming act between animals.
The dog was found trapped in the Hillsborough River in Tampa, Florida.
People living near Seminole Heights reported the strange noise they heard from the river.
Upon checking out the source of the sound, they found a dog struggling to climb out of the river walls.
Police officers responded immediately after receiving a call from concerned residents.
The respondents started working their way after reaching the area.
While 30-year Marine Patrol Unit veteran Randy Lopez sets up their equipment, his fellow officer Jodie Maxim photographed the scene.
They did not expect to capture such affection from an animal towards another.
The photo shows that White Dog was hanging onto the walls with his paws while a manatee appears to be lurking and guarding the poor creature at the same time.
The said photo was posted on Tampa Police Department Facebook page, which was agreed upon by those who have seen it. One of the comments said,
“Angels come in all sizes and shapes.”
Officer Lopez shares with ABC News that the dog’s cry for help may have attracted the attention of the manatee.
Manatees are known for their curious character, which may be the reason why it was seen near the area that had commotion due to the busy rescuers. In addition to that, these creatures are known to love fresh water which could also be the reason that it was in the river.
The operation only took approximately 20 minutes.
Rescuers used a sturdy extension ladder to go down the river and grab the dog. The dog was dipped in the water while two of his paws were holding onto the makeshift wall.
It was later found out that the area where the dog was seen is known to be a “no-wake” zone because manatees are commonly seen there.
White Dog was reunited with his owner.
After finding out that some of their neighbors were disturbed, White Dog’s owner suddenly became aware that their dog was missing.
Ronesha Keaton, the owner of White Dog, saw that their dog was being rescued and realized it had escaped their yard.
Apparently, the dog was not harmed and only had bug bites after being stuck in the river for some time.
In addition to the bug bites, White Dog also had bloody paws that might be due to his pursuit to climb over the wall.
No one knew how long White Dog was lingering for help or whether the manatee was with him the whole time.
No matter what is the truth behind this, their concern for each other has touched a lot of souls.
Read the department’s original post below.
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