“It’s not often [we get] a call like this.”
Published on Oct 8, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Meet Matilda: a spunky golden retriever whose fearlessness recently got her into a bit of trouble.
Last month, Matilda was in the car with her mom, driving on an overpass above New York’s Muscoot Reservoir, when she popped her head out the window and decided she wanted to go outside. In a flash, Matilda jumped out of the moving car, tumbling about 25 feet down into the reservoir below.
Matilda landed in the water and paddled over to a nearby island. Meanwhile, her terrified mom contacted the Katonah Fire Department (KFD) for help.
Posted by Katonah Fire Department on Sunday, September 28, 2025
Ten firefighters soon arrived with an inflatable boat, which they carried down to a clearing and launched into the water. The rescuers navigated through the reservoir and eventually reached Matilda, who was perched in a grove of bright green leaves.
“Once the responders got to her, she was very cooperative and had no issue being picked up and brought into the boat,” a representative from KFD told The Dodo.
Miraculously, the pup hadn’t sustained any injuries — she was just a bit wet and tired.
Relieved rescuers reunited Matilda with her grateful mom. The nerve-racking day had finally reached a joyful conclusion.
“It’s not often KFD gets a call like this,” the representative said. “Everyone was very happy with how quickly we were able to reach Matilda and get her back safely to her owner.”
Related
Man Steps Outside To See A Lost Baby Riding On His Golden Retriever’s Back
“I could not believe my eyes …”
Want more animals?
Get a daily dose of uplifting animal stories straight to your inbox
Subscribe
By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.
Read Full Article
Farmworker Driving Down Remote Road Locks Eyes With Family Huddling On Blanket
And the mom was pregnant 😰
The other day, a farmworker near Fresno, California, was having what he thought was a typical morning at work. But as he was driving through a rural area between agricultural fields, he spotted a little family of Chihuahuas huddled on the side of the road.
As the man got out of his car and approached the dogs, he noticed one of them was injured. He quickly reached out to Fresno Humane Animal Services for help.
The animal control officers rushed over to rescue the abandoned Chihuahua family. When they arrived, they found two puppies, a heavily pregnant mom and an injured dad. They were all shy and shaking with fear.
“[T]he mom was the first one to take the leap of faith and come up to us,” Priscilla Wolcott, Fresno Humane Animal Services animal control officer, told The Dodo.
Wolcott determined that the dad’s injury was a bite wound, likely the result of a coyote or dog attack. The dogs had probably been abandoned the previous evening and had been fending for themselves all night.
“I’m sure Dad was protecting the family,” Wolcott said. “And he made it out alive.”
The officers loaded the terrified pups into their truck and got them to the shelter. Just 30 minutes after they arrived, the mama started giving birth.
It’s a miracle that after everything the mama had been through, she had four healthy puppies. While she and her now six babies were resting, the dad was rushed to a veterinary hospital.
Animal Compassion Team, a local animal shelter, heard about the mama and her puppies and decided to take them all in. They’ll stay at the shelter until everyone is fixed and all the babies are weaned.
Soon after, Hazel’s House Rescue took in the dad, naming him Kaliska. At first, he was really struggling, and they weren’t sure if he was going to make it. But after some intensive veterinary care and lots of love from his foster mama, he started feeling better.
“[N]ow he is pretty much like any other dog,” Brittany Hazel, founder and president of Hazel’s House Rescue, told The Dodo. “You’d never know the trauma he endured.”
His foster mom ended up growing so attached to Kaliska that she decided to make him a permanent member of her family.
“He has new parents, a cattle dog sister and several feline siblings,” Hazel said.
All of the other rescued dogs deserve an equally happy ending. If you’re interested in adopting any of the other pups, you can reach out to Animal Compassion Team to learn more.
Related
Climbers Rush To Save Huge Animal Caught Dangling From Ropes On Icy Slope
He was completely stuck 😰
Want more animals?
Get a daily dose of uplifting animal stories straight to your inbox
Subscribe
By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.