U.S. Park Police are being credited with saving a dog left alone in the heat Sunday.
The dog, named Scout, was spotted roaming around Ohio Drive in the nearly 100-degree heat. When officers attempted to approach the animal, Scout jumped into the Potomac River.
The dog was in such distress, it reportedly couldn’t tread water. So a detective, known to be a dog lover, dropped her gun and jumped into the river to rescue the dog.
“The dog was going under…she grabbed him just in time,” said U.S. Park Police Officer Nancy Leggieri.
Scout was taken to a veterinary hospital.
Scout's owner was given a citation for not having his dog on a leash and paid a $25 fine. The owner told police he had been playing tennis nearby and had left the dog outside for about 30 minutes.
