Rescue
Cop Selflessly Jumps In Swamp To Save Drowning Dog
This brave cop didn't even think twice.
Jonathan Maes
07.17.18

One day, the adorable boxer Cody managed to get himself in a bit of a predicament. His owner anxiously called the emergency services because Cody was trapped in a swamp with no means of escaping. The poor pup was constantly crying and couldn’t get himself to safety.

News Channel 8
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News Channel 8

Luckily, a police officer quickly responded to the call and made sure that the pup would reach drier land.

Cody’s owner had no idea how he got stuck in the Hidden Oaks swamp, but she did know that her pup desperately needed a rescue.

News Channel 8
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News Channel 8

Deputy Matt Patellis from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is now being praised as a hero. Without hesitation, the man took off his uniform and jumped right into the pond to rescue the scared and stranded pup.

“Well, believe it or not, it was nice. It was a little refreshing,” he laughed.

News Channel 8
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News Channel 8

It’s very possible that the swamp was filled with dangerous animals such as gators and snakes and deputy Patellis was chest deep into the murky and dark water, but the officer made sure that Cody would be safe.

News Channel 8
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News Channel 8

“It was in the back of my mind, I just didn’t really focus on it,” the officer told News Channel 8 about the possibility of gators in the swamp. “I saw a dog that was crying and he just looked pathetic over there, so I just wanted to go get him out.”

News Channel 8
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News Channel 8

The rescue was a bit tougher than deputy Patellis had anticipated, but he eventually managed to reunite Cody and his owner on safer ground.

“The usual tricks didn’t work like ‘Hey buddy, do you want for a ride? Do you want a ride?’ He was just nervous. He started kind of backing away from me a little bit, so I was petting him and saying ‘It’s alright bud, we gotta get you over there.'”

News Channel 8
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News Channel 8

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office praised the actions of their officer on Twitter.

“When an owner reported her boxer was trapped and crying on the far side of a small lake, Dep. Matt Patellis went into the water to comfort the animal and get him back home safely. HCSO… always on duty, even in swamp water.”

“They both need showers but everyone is back home safe thanks to the deputy going above and beyond the call of duty by going into the small lake,” their Twitter account read.

News Channel 8
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News Channel 8

Deputy officer Patellis met Cody again a couple of days after the rescue, and it looks like these two are well on their way to become best friends.

“He was a good dog. He was happy and afterwards he thanked me and gave me kisses and loving on me, so this is one of those calls that makes you smile at the end of the day,” the deputy officer added.

News Channel 8
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News Channel 8

What a great rescue!

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