In a heart-stopping moment captured on police cam footage, an officer showcased her lightning-fast reflexes as she saved her K9 partner from a terrifying 75-foot fall.
Deputy Lauren Donaldson and her police dog Zeppelin were returning to their squad car after making a felony arrest on the 528 Causeway of the Florida Turnpike. In a surprising moment, Zeppelin unexpectedly leaped over the guard rail, as shared in a post on Facebook.
In the video, Zeppelin confidently takes the lead before unexpectedly leaping. Deputy Donaldson springs into action, quickly positioning herself against the concrete wall to assist in rescuing Zeppelin. As she reaches down to lift him, panic evident in her voice, she urgently exclaims, “No! No!”
Luckily, the deputy swiftly saved her police dog. Once back on the bridge, Zeppelin confidently makes his way to the car unharmed, wagging his tail in excitement.
According to Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Lauren’s incredible rescue of her cherished companion is even more remarkable when you take into account the weight difference. Lauren, weighing 122 pounds, managed to save “Zeppelin,” a Belgian Malinois weighing approximately 75 pounds. Despite the challenging situation, she remained calm and successfully pulled “Zeppelin” to safety.
According to the sheriff, if Zeppelin had fallen, he would have ended up in the Indian River, making it highly unlikely for him to survive.
“Lauren and her K-9 partner, Zeppelin, have secured the title of two-time champions in the fiercely competitive “Hardest Hitting K-9″ category at the Space Coast K-9 Competition. I am incredibly proud of Lauren’s unwavering dedication as a valuable member of our team, tirelessly working to safeguard our community,” he expressed with admiration.
Sheriff Ivey concluded by expressing his lingering anger towards “Zeppelin” for causing a significant scare. However, he also emphasized his gratitude for the fact that “Zeppelin” emerged from the incident unharmed.
An Inspiring Act of Heroism: Officer Saves Police Dog from a 75-Foot Fall off Bridge