Maine Firefighters Rescue Blind and Deaf Dog Swept Away in Stream

The owners of one particular blind and deaf terrier might want to consider renaming him “Lucky.”

Somehow the small dog — hey, I’m just going to go ahead and call him Lucky — ended up in the Messalonskee Stream in Waterford, Maine, on Sunday. He was swept downstream and then became trapped on a small bank near a bridge.

Lucky lived to bark the story thanks to a good Samaritan who saw the dog and called the Waterville Fire Department (WFD), which quickly arrived to rescue him.

“WFD proudly serves our residents, but sometimes even our pets will find themselves in a bind,” the department wrote on its Facebook page yesterday.

The WFD’s special operations team shut down the road over the bridge and went to work. Lt. Ryan Cote was able to reach the bank by using a ladder extended from the bridge. The castaway was “wet, blind and deaf,” according to the Facebook post.

Photos that accompany the post show Cote ascending the ladder with Lucky tucked on his arm, and Lt. Steve Francoeur helping him get the dog over the bridge railing.

“Once the dog was safe, the crews made numerous phone calls and a short time later located the owner,” the Facebook post reports. “Great work by all involved here.” Absolutely!

Photo: Waterville Fire – Rescue/Facebook

2 Hero Police Dogs Receive Heartwarming Final Salutes

Two four-legged police department veterans — Sultan, of Yarmouth, Maine and Judge, of West Deptford Township, N.J. — received farewells befitting the beloved heroes as they made their final trips to their veterinarians this month.

Sultan

Sultan, a 13-year-old German Shepherd, was Yarmouth, Maine’s first police dog. During his 10-year career, he and his only partner, officer Mike Vogel, captured dozens of suspects and seized more than 100 pounds of narcotics as well as thousands of dollars in cash across southern Maine, according to the Portland Press Herald.

“He’s such a proud dog, always watching,” Vogel told the Press Herald. When Vogel moved to Florida in 2012, Sultan retired and went to live with another officer, Shane Stevenson.

About six months ago, Sultan started having seizures, which became progressively worse. Two weeks ago, he lost the ability to eat or stand. Stevenson made the difficult decision to end Sultan’s suffering on Feb. 13.

Police officers and firefighters from around Maine gathered in Yarmouth to pay their respects to Sultan. Patrol cars, with their lights flashing, escorted Stevenson’s van the last mile to the Yarmouth Veterinary Center.

Many of the officers petted Sultan one last time as he lay in the van.

“The loyal police dog raised his black nose to their hands, mustering for each of them a friendly sniff,” the Press Herald reported.

As Stevenson lifted Sultan out of the van and carried him inside the hospital, the officers lined up in two rows and saluted him.

“It goes much deeper than just working with them,” one of the officers, Justin Cooley with the Maine State Police, told the Press Herald. “These are dogs that we take home with us; they get to know our family. They’re with us 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“You go through a lot of things with them, and you just dread this day.”

Judge

Nearly 100 police and K9 officers lined the street near St. Francis Veterinary Center in West Deptford Township, N.J., Friday to salute retired police dog Judge as he made his last visit there with his partner and dog dad, Cpl. Michael Franks.

The officers saluted 9-year-old Judge, a Czech Shepherd, as he carried a protective arm sleeve in his mouth and walked to the hospital’s door with Franks.

During his service as a police dog, Judge apprehended 152 suspects and helped recover three stolen vehicles, three firearms and about $47,000 in drug money, according to the West Deptford Police Facebook page.

After Judge retired from the force last August, he began showing symptoms of Cushing’s disease, a condition caused by a tumor on a dog’s pituitary gland that creates an increase of cortisone.

When Judge was diagnosed with the disease, the local community donated more than $12,000 to help cover the cost of his veterinary bills — all within just 48 hours.

“Judge had undergone surgery and was taking medication for the disease, but it quickly deteriorated, unfortunately,” West Deptford Deputy Chief Sean McKenna told NJ.com. By last week, Judge was having difficulty moving.

Officers and K9s from nearly every police department in Gloucester County arrived in West Deptford Township Friday.

“It’s about showing respect, but also the people who are here wanted to thank Judge for his service to the community,” Glassboro Sgt. Dan Eliasen told NJ.com.

“No one has forgotten what he’s done — and that includes protecting his partner and his community.”

Photos via Twitter, Twitter

Watch Hero Pit Bull Mix Stop Gas Station Robbery

An armed man chose the wrong Maine gas station to rob last week.

The man went inside Holly’s Gas Station in Saco on Feb. 9 and asked clerk Justin Ireland if he could use the phone. Ireland’s Pit Bull/Boxer mix, Thor, vigorously wagged his tail at the stranger.

But then the man pointed a gun at Ireland, handed him a plastic bag and shoved him. Ireland, who’d been holding onto Thor’s harness, released his dog. Thor immediately sprang into action to protect his dog dad.

A surveillance camera captured Thor jumping on the robber, biting his hand and face.

The robber ran off and fled in a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, according to a UPI report.

Neither Ireland or Thor was injured.

According to the Saco Police Department’s Facebook page, the suspect is a white male who’s about 5’10 and weighs 180 pounds. He probably has bite wounds on his hand and the sides of his face.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the police department at 207-282-8216.

Photos via Facebook