Dog Believed to Have Drowned Found Alive

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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Cats usually get credit for having nine lives,

but a golden retriever mix that survived three days in the James

River may change that notion.

 

The pooch, who was believed to have drowned on Friday, was found

alive Sunday and now the Newport News Animal Services Division is

looking for his owner.

 

Police received a 911 call Friday night about a dog that had fallen

in the water. Officials said the owners of the dog were fishing when

the dog jumped off the pier and was pulled under water. Another

caller said to cancel the emergency because the dog could not be

found and probably had drowned.

 

Officers received yet another call around 3 a.m. Sunday that someone

spotted a dog stuck in a culvert along the shore.

 

" They were trying to get to the dog, " said Newport News Animal

Services Superintendent Bill Wise. " But they just couldn't. "

 

When the tide finally came in, the severely weakened dog was washed

out of the culvert.

 

The dog had suffered a dislocated hip, but on Monday, the hip popped

back into place. The dog is now doing well, is eating and waits at a

shelter for its owner.

 

" It's pretty amazing that the dog is still alive and survived for

three days, " Wise said. " He had to tread water or find a place to

stand. I guess survival instinct was kicking in. "