A missing dog endured a frightening fight for survival in San Francisco Bay, pushing through choppy water as aggressive seagulls circled and struck before firefighters carried out a dramatic rescue.
The small dog was spotted Thursday struggling in the marsh near Cooley Landing Park in East Palo Alto, almost two weeks after it disappeared on the Fourth of July.
The East Palo Alto Police Department recorded the unusual rescue and shared the footage, quipping that “the cat in the tree had the day off.”
“Tiny dog escapes marsh, survives aerial assault by an organized gang of seagulls, and is rescued by the Menlo Park Fire Department,” police wrote in a Facebook post, calling it a “12/10 action movie.”
The rescue unfolded after a witness saw the dog run into the water and begin swimming away from shore, leading to a 911 call.
Officers arrived at 3:26 p.m., while crews with the Menlo Park Fire Protection District launched a search for the stranded pup.
Firefighters first scanned the marsh with binoculars, then deployed a drone to lock in the dog’s exact location.
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Drone video showed the weary canine paddling through the bay waters as seagulls repeatedly swooped overhead.
The dog had managed to swim about half a mile out into the Bay before rescuers reached it.
A crew aboard Menlo Fire’s Airboat 77 was shown snatching the pup from the water before wrapping it in a firefighter’s coat.
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After bringing the pup back to shore, rescuers examined it and found an open wound on its left cheek from a seagull strike.
The dog was then taken into the care of animal control and later transferred to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, where staff were able to identify the owners and reunite them with the missing pet.
The rescue was a team effort involving the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, East Palo Alto Police Department, Redwood City Fire Department and the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA.
The unusual survival story left Facebook users amazed.
“That doggo is amazing,” one wrote.
“Those seagulls thought they had dinner on the run,” another added.
“Now this is what I want my tax dollars going towards. Great job!” a third chimed in.
