A retired guide dog has all four paws on dry land after being rescued from the water by the Vancouver Police Department marine unit.
Ten-year-old golden lab Burbank and his owner were on a visit from Burnaby and enjoying the Ambleside dog park Monday afternoon, when calamity struck.
“There’s a bit of a rip current going on with the tide change,” said Const. Jeff Palmer, West Vancouver police spokesman. “The dog got caught up in the riptide and was unable to swim back to shore.”
The owner called West Vancouver police in a panic, saying the dog was being swept out towards the Lions Gate Bridge.
“We were able to quickly radio over to VPD Marine and the Coast Guard also ended up responding because they happened to be in the area as well,” Palmer said.
In fairly short order, VPD members found the dog adrift in the First Narrows, hauled him into a rigid inflatable boat and delivered him back to a “very, very relieved” owner on the pier at Ambleside Landing.
