FIREFIGHTERS RETRIEVE MAN WHO JUMPED INTO RAIN-SWOLLEN RIVER ASDROWNING DOG SAVED.Byline: Lisa Van Proyen Daily News Staff Writer Richard Garcia
``I just couldn't deal with the sight of a life going down the river. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing,'' the 36-year-old said after the ordeal. It could've killed him. Firefighters and public works public works pl.n. Construction projects, such as highways or dams, financed by public funds and constructed by a government for the benefit or use of the general public. Noun 1. employees plucked Garcia and the golden retriever golden retriever, breed of large sporting dog developed primarily in Scotland in the mid-19th cent. It stands about 23 in. (58.4 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 60 to 75 lb (27.2–34.1 kg). named Hunk from the river channel. The death-defying adventure began about 9 a.m. when Garcia and neighbors spotted a dog in the river, which firefighters later estimated was about 4 feet deep and running about 30 mph. They called 911, but Garcia said he couldn't wait. ``Next thing I knew, I jumped over the side of the wall, and I reached in and grabbed on to the dog and I fell in myself,'' Garcia said. Animal control officials gave a different account: They say officers were there but waiting for backup when Garcia ignored warnings and jumped in. ``He decided to climb down and take the matter into his own hands,'' said Jackie David, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Department of Animal Services. Garcia said no officers were there when he entered the water. After being pulled into the current, he said, he held on to Hunk's collar, trying to push him to safety. They bobbed down the debris-strewn torrent. ``It seemed like it was forever. He was dog paddling and had the look of fright in his eyes,'' Garcia said. Garcia managed to gain strong footing on the slippery river bottom and got out. A Los Angeles fire helicopter landed in the channel and retrieved him. He was bruised but not badly injured, firefighters said. Next, firefighters rescued Hunk and gave the tuckered-out pooch oxygen through a mask. ``The dog became hypothermic hy·po·ther·mi·a n. Abnormally low body temperature. [hypo- + Greek therm , and we put it on a carrier and threw a blanket on him,'' said Firefighter Larry Jarvis of Station 86. Firefighters said Garcia's ordeal should serve as a warning about rivers. ``It could be relatively shallow. But it gets real slick. Even if it's shallow, it's hard to get out,'' said Firefighter Larry Jackson Animal control officials paired the dog up with his owner, Alissa Allen of Northridge. CAPTION(S): 2 photos PHOTO (1) Northridge resident Alissa Allen hugs her golden retriever Hunk at the East Valley Animal Shelter "Dog Pound" redirects here. For the rap group, see Tha Dogg Pound. An animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats. after the dog's traumatic rescue Wednesday from the rain-swollen Los Angeles River. (2) From left, Firefighters Jose Perez, Dave Perez and Jeff Nelson give Hunk oxygen. Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion