Officer Stays Two Hours With Injured Dog, Shares His Lunch

October 6, 2025

When Officer Samuel Lopez of the Murfreesboro (TN) Police Department responded to a “loose animal” call, he thought it would be a quick stop.

Instead, he spent nearly two hours on the scene. His compassion is now touching hearts across Murfreesboro and beyond.

Officer Samuel Lopez

Officer Lopez found a dog lying injured on the side of the road — frightened, alone, and unable to walk. Rather than simply waiting for animal control, Lopez stayed by the pup’s side for nearly two hours, comforting him the entire time.

He shared his lunch, spoon-feeding the dog bits of food and offering water from his own thermal bottle. It was a simple act of kindness, but one that spoke volumes about his heart.

For Lopez, dogs are family. He and his wife are unable to have children, and that’s deepened his bond with animals even more. His empathy that day came naturally — not as part of a job description, but as an act of love.

When officers from PAWS arrived, the dog still couldn’t walk. Lopez gently helped carry the injured pup into their vehicle so he could be taken to a veterinarian for care.

The City of Murfreesboro later shared the story and bodycam footage online, writing, “This is what public service looks like — empathy, patience, and heart.”