Here's a palate cleanser for your Sunday morning. Normally we're talking about dogs doing the difficult work of search and rescue, but this one involves a dog being rescued, and it was quite a dramatic display.
Two weeks after a dog went missing, emergency responders on the Peninsula discovered and rescued the canine after she ran out into the water and began swimming away from the shore.
“We received a call for a dog that ran out into the water and just kept swimming. A witness called 911,” the Menlo Park Fire Protection District posted Friday on Facebook. “Dog and family have been reunited. Thank you to everyone who helped reunite this furry friend with its family!”
The East Palo Alto Police Department posted the video of the rescue and had some fun with it, with lines like: "The cat in the tree had the day off. Instead, Menlo Park Fire responded to: One Tiny dog."
More footage of the rescue.
WATCH:
A dog was rescued after being spotted swimming in the Bay, according to the Menlo Park Fire Department. pic.twitter.com/EPlOjKOZCI
— KRON4 News (@kron4news) July 19, 2026
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The rescuers examined the dog and discovered an open wound on its left cheek, indicating a seagull strike. Quite frightening and amazing that the dog was able to fend it off.
The dog was then taken into the care of animal control and later transferred to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, where staff were able to identify the owners and reunite them with the missing pet.
The rescue was a team effort involving the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, East Palo Alto Police Department, Redwood City Fire Department and the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA.
The dog's owner was grateful, as he or she should have been.
“I want to thank the entire rescue team from the bottom of my heart,” the dog’s owner, an East Palo Alto resident, later posted on the Facebook page. “These last 2 weeks were of a lot of agony not knowing about my dog. … I would never be able to thank you enough for her rescue and for bringing her back to her home. Forever grateful.”
If you look at the dates, two weeks ago was the July 4th weekend, which is the biggest day of the year for pets to go AWOL. With hearing that is much better than humans', some dogs do not have a good time on this day, and even in restrictive California, fireworks displays still go on and can be a source of chaos for dog owners who don't prepare for them. While not stated, one can surmise that this may have been the reason behind fur friend's disappearance. The owner is truly fortunate not only that the dog didn't get far, but that Bay Fire was able to act so quickly and expeditiously.
Our first responders are amazing, as are all the agencies that worked in coordination to ensure the pup was attended to and was safely returned to its owner.
All lives matter.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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