Dog that swam in alligator-patrolled waters rescued in SC

A dog that swam to an island in the Cypress Wetlands in Port Royal – patrolled by alligators – was rescued around noon Thursday unharmed. The volunteers needed a kayak and a drone to reach the stranded puppy, who had been missing for a few days.

Beaufort Water Search and Rescue (BWSR) teamed up with Lovable Paws Rescue and Sanctuary and the Beaufort / Port Royal Fire Department for the rescue.

A firefighter and a BWSR volunteer used a drone to direct searchers through the thick vegetation to the adventurous mix of rust and white burrows.

William Towne, a second for BWSR, said the dog must have swam to the island. “We had to take a kayak ourselves to get to the island,” he said.

Besides being a birding paradise, alligators also navigate cypress wetlands, feeding on turtles, frogs, small mammals, birds, and even each other when food is. rare. During the rescue effort, one of the volunteers took a photo of an alligator, but the brave puppy managed to walk past them and then got stranded on the island.

“Although different from our normal business, the men and women of BWSAR will do everything possible to ensure that anyone in need of assistance on the water is taken care of, including our four-legged friends,” BWSAR said in a statement.

Heather Piontek of Lovable Paws Rescue and Sanctuary said Sarah Nutter of Port Royal was walking her dog on Wednesday afternoon when she spotted the stranded terrier mix. They decided to act before the dog “became an alligator snack” and contacted Beaufort-Port Royal firefighters, who contacted aquatic rescue. The rescue was mounted Thursday morning. “Port Royal (fire) and the water rescue was amazing,” Piontek said.

Piontek’s daughter, Emmeline Malfroid, found the dog, who was so hungry and scared when she approached that he panicked on his stomach as she put a leash around his neck. Piontek is not sure why the dog ended up on the island, assuming he may have been scared and flew off to find himself there before he knew what had happened. pass.

The dog, missing for a few days, will be returned to the owner, whose phone number was on the collar, Towne said.

The Beaufort / Port Royal Fire Department was informed around 10:30 a.m. that a dog was trapped on the island, said Ross Vezin, a spokesperson for the department.

When the firefighters arrived, they met the Lovable Paws volunteers, then contacted Lt. Kyle Peeples of the Fire Department, who volunteers with BWSR. In less than 30 minutes, Peeples and BWSR showed up with the kayak. Guided by the drone, the dog was located after about 20 minutes of searching.

This story was originally published December 31, 2021 11:16 a.m.