How far would you go to save a dog that’s not yours?

Dogs are innately curious creatures and with their “predatory” instincts, they can often chase and wander. This makes them vulnerable to danger especially when your neighborhood has features that can put your dog in danger.

In Florida, a Lee County deputy is being called a hero. He went up and beyond the call of duty just to save a dog that was in imminent danger.

The local police department was called after a dog ran away from its owners.

The dog was believed to have run into the mangrove swamp. The Florida mangroves are home to various species like birds, fishes, alligators, and crocodiles.

According to a post by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Allen Reddick waddled through the mangroves just to reach Henna.

In the picture, you can see Deputy Reddick walking through waist-high waters and holding Henna’s leash to secure her.

The post also said that after the rescue, the local police department reunited Henna with her family.

People commended Deputy Reddick for his courage.

“Thank you, Deputy, us Lee county residents appreciate all you do going above and beyond keeping all of us safe, especially the animals who can’t help themselves,” said one commenter.

“Wow, to risk going into a swamp is heroic due to creatures in the wild, kudos to this officer! Happy you and the fur baby are safe!” said another comment.

“Deputy Allen Reddick didn’t hesitate for a second,” the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, meanwhile, said in the post “he jumped right into the thick swamp, rescued Henna, and reunited her with her owners.”

This is not the first time a dog got lost in the swamps of Florida.

Just last year a dog was trapped on an “island” in the overgrowths of Bassville Park. When the officers got to the scene, they saw a dog desperately clinging to a log for their dear life.

Another law enforcement officer didn’t hesitate to jump into the waters just to save the dog in danger. In their statement, they also said that alligators may have been swimming and were just waiting for the opportunity to pounce on the dog.

Just like Henna, the dog was safely rescued.

If you are living in an area with treacherous landscapes, it would be best to lessen the chances of your dog wandering off on its own.

They might find themselves on a hiking trail with mountain lions or bears, or on a swamp where there are snakes and predator reptiles.

To lessen their drive to wander off, here are some tips:

Firstly, you need to walk them regularly so their energy can be spent. This is particularly useful for dogs with high predatory drive or is bred to work like shepherd dogs.

Second, you need to stave off boredom. Once boredom creeps in, they’ll be much more curious about things around them and may give chase. Give them toys to chew on or to solve.

Thirdly, which is the obvious one, is to leave your dog to a daycare or a person you know when you are unable to watch them.

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Source: Facebook – Lee County Sheriff’s Office, FOX 4, FOX 35, WebMD