Deputies and Firefighters rescue dog

When Paul Rocco’s Shepherd mix Butch wandered away Sunday, he was worried about his beloved pet.

Rocco searched for his dog all day but couldn’t find Butch anywhere in his neighborhood off One Mile Lane. He searched again in the bitter cold Monday, calling Butch’s name until he heard a familiar bark. He tracked Butch’s bark until he located the dog trapped in Stewart’s Creek.

“He was hanging onto a branch,” Rocco said of the 8-year-old dog. “He was entangled in some sticky vines and thorns.”

Rocco called 911 to tell dispatcher Sheriff’s Elizabeth Finley he was going to jump into the creek to rescue Butch. Finley told him not to jump into the river because Sheriff’s Deputy Gary Herron was nearby.

Herron, Deputy Matthew Arrington and Almaville Volunteer Rescue Department quickly responded and rescued Butch.

“It was pretty dramatic and traumatic,” Rocco said of the search and rescue.

Herron found Butch wrapped up in vines in the creek, pinning him.

“It was horrible,” Herron said. “The only thing sticking out of the water was his head. He was whimpering and shaking so badly. He just wanted to get out of the water.”

Rocco said Herron “hacked his way through the vines on the slippery creek and got to the dog.”

Herron said Almaville firefighters arrived and handed him a hook to remove the briars trapping Butch.

“I was able to pull the dog out of the water,” Herron said. “We got him out of the water and that was the main thing.”

Firefighters and deputies helped lift the dog weighing about 100 pounds from the water and carried him up the muddy, slippery ravine to a thankful Rocco.

Rocco said it was stroke of luck he found Butch because the dog got into the creek and drifted downstream where he became trapped. Butch apparently stayed in the creek overnight when the temperature dipped below freezing.

“Butch is fine but tired,” Rocco said of the dog he’s cared for 2-1/2 years. “We dried him, warmed him up, wrapped him in blankets and gave him food and water. He looks like he’s doing pretty good.”

Rocco said the deputies and firefighters did a great job in the rescue.

“I can’t thank them enough,” Rocco said.

Herron said the rescue was a team effort between the deputies and firefighters.

“I’m thankful for our brothers,” Herron said, adding, “This is my dream job and I love doing my job every day.”