Dog In Distress Rescued From Fort Lauderdale Waterway
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – When you think of an animal that has nine lives, cats usually come to mind. But there's a dog in Fort Lauderdale that may have used up an extra life after she was found dog paddling in a Fort Lauderdale river, all alone, tired and confused.
The 2-year-old Cavalier King Spaniel named "Soukie" fell off the dock of her owner's home located on the east side of Lake Sylvia. Her owner, James Kleineck didn't even know his beloved pet was missing and at risk of drowning in the Mercedes River near Pier 66 Hotel and Marina.
Luckily, Captain Chris Young of TowBoatU.S. Fort Lauderdale spotted the dog in distress and noticed she was trying unsuccessfully to swim against the current while getting swept toward the busy Intracoastal Waterway.
Young managed to get her out of the water and safely on his towboat. He immediately called her owner, whose number was on her dog tags.
"We are so thankful to Chris for saving her, she swam so far and it really is a miracle that she survived," said James Kleineck. "I took her to the veterinarian right away and she is recovering nicely from this experience. We have had her since she was a puppy and we can't imagine the thought of losing her; we can't thank you enough!"
