Firefighters Perform Dramatic Air Rescue of Dog in Rain-Swollen LA River

[tomm2thumbs]

Run time: 01:55 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaEU3kPlCdw   Posted on YouTube: January 23, 2010 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: January 23, 2010 By DU Member: tomm2thumbs Views on DU: 613

 
It's a dog. I guess you should know that much. This is raw footage which shows more detail of the actual rescue of the animal trapped in the Los Angeles River, but below is a link to Shepard Smith's account of the story if you want to hear the details on what happened. LAFD Capt. Steve Ruda said the firefighter, Joe St. Georges, who rescued the dog has significant bite injuries to his right hand and forearm, and is being treated in the emergency room at L.A. County-USC Medical Center.

“They are waiting for a hand specialist to come in because of the significance of the injuries,” Ruda said. The dog will be tested for rabies, and is being cared for at the county's Animal Care shelter in Downey, he said.

News report...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-AmQy4Q3qQ

There is a debate going on whether the Firefighters should risk their lives to save a dog if you want to chime in at:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/01/should-la-firefighters-risked-their-lives-to-save-a-dog-tell-us-what-you-think.html

Figured there was enough of a political twist to the story on whether such great measures should be taken to rescue an animal in such cases as this, but I liked the firefighter's take on it - St. Georges was asked why he decided to risk his life. He said officials worried that someone without training would attempt to rescue the dog because the scene was being broadcast on TV. (good answer either way)

[emilyg]

1. I watched the whole thing and cried at the end.

[truth2power]

2. Bless that firefighter. n/t

[Peregrine Took]

3. How Iove those guys! n/t

[cufford]

4. Umm...sorry

Umm...sorry, but this is news!

Our country is going down the tubes, economy heading towards third-world status, millions homeless and in poverty, including children, thousands of American's dying in wars for oil or whatever, and the SCOTUS just cemented corporate control of our government, and of course we care more about "feel good" infotainment than the real news.

This is one of the main things that is wrong with our country. Our people care more about being entertained with meaningless drivel like American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, or TV News junk like this, than our world imploding as we know it.

We get what we deserve.

This ISN'T news...it's entertainment.

[StarryNite]

6. If you're not interested,

then don't watch it. But you can't choose what is and isn't an important story to others.

Thanks for posting this tomm2thumbs. As a lover of all creatures great and small, it is an important story to me.

[cowman]

7. As a

Las Vegas Firefighter this just shows how far our profession will go to provide service to anyone and anything. You are just a heartless person. Suppose that were your dog, I bet you would be estatic that a firefighter showed up to save your dog and you wouldn't be saying this dribble

[StarryNite]

11. And it looked as though the dog

was biting him. But the firefighter realized it was just because the dog was so scared and he made sure he got the dog to dry ground. Great story with a happy ending. I hope they were able to reunite him with his owner.

[sulphurdunn]

5. People wll spend a fortune

saving a dog and endangering a man because they can, and because the man is willing to do so, because he is a good man. That is all one needs to know.

[grasswire]

8. I wonder why he didn't take a muzzle

...or even a strip of cloth to tie the dog's mouth. Or wrap his arms before going in. Something.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. Very brave men and a very lucky dog.

Hope he ends up in a good home.

[tomm2thumbs]

10. very lucky dog

http://www.ktla.com/community/photos/ktla-pg-dog-rescue,0,1738708.photogallery
photogallery of events