BELHAVEN, N.C. — As Tropical Storm Ophelia dumped rain on North Carolina and brought about flooding close to the Atlantic coast, a police chief helped save an animal’s life.
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Belhaven police Chief Christopher Kelly waded out into rising waters on Saturday to save lots of a canine that had been tied up and was desperately making an attempt to get to larger floor, WNCN-TV reported.
The heart of Ophelia made landfall on Saturday close to Emerald Isle at about 6:20 a.m. EDT with 70 mph winds, in response to WSOC-TV.
Belhaven is north of Emerald Isle and took a number of residents abruptly on Saturday, WNCN reported.
“We thought we had dodged a bullet,” Wayne Penn, a 10-year resident of Beaufort County wrote, in response to the tv station. “Well, the rain from Ophelia didn’t bother us much but the storm surge from the winds following the storm pushed the river into town. We had to scramble to get our vehicles to higher ground and right now we are completely surrounded by water.”
So was a canine that was left tied up outdoors at East Bay Street and Union Street in Belhaven.
“Dog tied up in flood water. Already up to the dog’s belly. He’s scared and needs rescuing,” resident Terry Pagliaro wrote in a Facebook post. “I’m so angry right now — called police but no idea how long it will take to get him.”
The canine climbed on prime of a doghouse in an effort to keep away from the water, WNCN reported.
Kelly arrived lower than an hour later in a hearth truck, in response to the tv station.
The police chief waded into the water and rescued the frightened animal after which later took a selfie with hte canine, WNCN reported.
“Thank you, Chief Kelly and Chad O’Neal who drove the fire truck!” Pagliaro wrote on Facebook.
It is unclear who owns the canine.
“The Town of Belhaven has some great first responders. But, they should never be put in the position to take care of someone else’s negligence,” city officers wrote in a Facebook post.
