Above and Beyond and Into the Ocean

A small nine-month-old poodle is safe and dry after nearly being swept out to sea Thursday. Animal Control Officer Melissa Prettyman jumped into the water alongside the jetty at Hospitality Point to rescue the puppy.

It all started when a San Diego police officer called Animal Services to come out and assist her with capturing the black and gray animal. The dog was trapped on the jetty and wouldn’t let anyone near her, and there were fears the incoming tide would take the pooch along with it.

Officer Prettyman scrambled over the rocks along the entire length of the jetty all the way to end and wouldn’t you know it, the puppy made a U-turn and ran back the way it had come. About half-way back, the dog leapt into the water and the current started sweeping her toward Dog Beach and then out west into the waves.

A nearby surfer tried to help, but the frightened dog tried to bite him so the surfer couldn’t corral her. That’s when Prettyman jumped into the water herself and swam after the dog. The pooch tried to bite her as well but Prettyman managed to capture her and bring her safely to shore.

After bringing the poodle back to the animal shelter on Gaines Street, Prettyman dried off as well she could and went right back to work to deal with her next call.

Shelter officials called a number on the dog’s tag and it led them to the owners. The two were so happy to see her again, they nearly cried. They said Aurora had been missing for three days.   

As for Officer Prettyman, she said she felt like a billy goat climbing amongst the rocks on the jetty but that it’s all part of her job.