SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – When a dog named Vader was struck by a vehicle on Aloma Avenue, two Seminole County deputies went above and beyond to make sure the animal survived.
On Sept. 25, a work crew left the front gate open at Katherine Mishon's home and her 4-year-old black Labrador-boxer mix slipped out and found his way into traffic.
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Deputy Deborah Jacobs had been leaving an assignment when she saw Vader in the median and stopped to help.
"He obviously had been hit. (He) started seizing, convulsing, so at that point, I honestly didn't think that the dog was going to make it," Jacobs said.
While Mishon was looking for her pet, she saw flashing lights on Aloma Avenue and immediately knew something was wrong.
Jacobs called in Deputy Gio Medina to help with traffic control in the area and together, they devised a plan to help the pooch.
SCSO Deputies Help Save Dog Left In RoadToday we’re proud to share a story involving two of our first responders who teamed up to save a beloved pet. A dog had been hit by a car and left in the road critically injured. Because of the deputies’ selfless actions, the dog’s owner says she has special reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving holiday. #WeAreSCSO
Posted by Seminole County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, November 21, 2018
"(Mishon) started screaming, 'Is that my dog, is that my dog, is that my dog?' Deb and I started, you know, running ideas through our head and got a fire blanket to load the dog up," Medina said.
Medina helped Mishon take the dog to a veterinarian 2 miles away. The dog was stabilized but needed further care.
"When we left the first office, the dog was still in grave condition, I thought, and the vet said the only thing that can save that dog is him fighting, I guess, and he did," Medina said.
The trio took Vader to a local animal hospital, where they learned he had suffered internal injuries. Mishon thanked Medina for sticking by her side through the ordeal.
"We had to transport (Vader) to an overnight emergency vet and (Medina) helped my brother carry the dog out. Now, the dog had blood that was pouring out onto (Medina), and he said nothing, he just continued to help," Mishon said.
Thanks to those two deputies and Mishon's dedication to his care, Vader is now doing much better.
"Everyone was there, ready to help and go the extra mile, and I think that's what was the most heartwarming, touching thing as a person that they don't know, they've never met me. They didn't have to do anything for this poor dog sitting in the street," Mishon said.
For Medina, he said it was worth it to see Vader happy and healthy once again.
"It's amazing. You know, not in a million years would I have thought that that dog was going to make it, but he did," Medina said.