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Austin Firefighters Don't Just Rescue Two-Legged Victims

November 4, 2013

The Austin Fire Department has been battling widespread flooding after a fall storm dumped up to 15 inches of rain over parts of central Texas. Crews have been assisting with flood relief efforts as entire neighborhoods were evacuated to avoid rapidly rising rivers.

This touching photo, taken by photographer Preston Culver, shows Firefighters Matt Harvey and Michael Cooper rescuing a dog from the floodwaters. The image was posted to the department's Facebook page on Thursday, shining some well-deserved light on those at the front lines of disaster relief.

We don't just rescue two-legged victims...we love our four-legged friends as well. Two of AFD's finest--Firefighter Matt Harvey and Firefighter Michael Cooper, both from B shift--show just what that means. (Photo credit: Preston Culver, Austin Fire Department)

"The dog wasn’t with a family," Battalion Chief Thayer Smith told ABCNews.com today.  "It was out swimming in the water and as the crews were rescuing people they rescued that dog."

The dog, as all other animals rescued yesterday, was taken in by the local humane society, which set up temporary operations at flooding locations, according to Smith.  Unclaimed pets are then taken to the local animal shelter where they can be tracked and picked up by their owners.

Spokesperson Michelle Tanzola told The Huffington Post the rescuers' efforts are emblematic of the department's motto, "Our Mission Goes Beyond Our Name," and we'd have to agree.

Good News Source: Huff Post, Facebook | Photo: Preston Culver, Austin Fire Department