TV viewers watched transfixed for 90 minutes as firefighters struggled to rescue a dog from the fast-moving Los Angeles River on Monday after the pup’s owner and a Good Samaritan were also plucked from the waters.
The ordeal was carried live on all local TV stations as an adult German shepherd mix was carried along in a 10 mph current following a morning rainstorm. The dog was rescued by four firefighters adjacent to the CBS lot in Studio City at the intersection of Gilligan’s Island Road and Gunsmoke Avenue, named after two vintage series filmed there.
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It’s not clear why the owner of the dog was in the river, which runs the length of LA County before emptying into the ocean. Firefighters threw her a rescue ring, but she refused it in order to hold on to her dog. She was rescued when a firefighter was lowered down and pulled her out, but the dog continued down the river, ABC7 News said.
As news of the attempted rescue spread, onlookers flocked to the waterway to watch. One man climbed into the water and managed to grab hold of the dog for about 15 minutes while battling the current. Video shows him releasing the animal and flailing in the water before grabbing hold of a rescue rope. He later told reporters that the dog bit him.
The LA Fire Department then tweeted a warning advising well-wishers to stay out of the water during the attempted rescue.
An hour later, the dog had moved to a shallow area where firefighters descended and attempted a rescue. The dog trotted back and forth between shallow and deep water, snapping at firefighters whenever they got close. Finally, the animal was noosed and hoisted to freedom.
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Following the rescue, which came during a respite in the storm, news reports said the dog will be evaluated by a veterinarian.
