It was a wet and cold rescue for Barrie Police Officers but thanks to their actions, Zara the German Shepherd is home safe and sound.
Officers were called to the Duckworth Street and Highway 400 area around 8:25 a.m. Thursday after receiving multiple reports of a dog on the loose.
Const. Michelle Jansen was responding when she saw the dog run across Duckworth and get hit by car.
"I actually saw the dog come in contact with a vehicle and was struck," said Jansen. "The dog got up from there and ran up the south side of the embankment to the 400."
Police spotted the dog running north on the highway but were unable to reach it before it jumped over an embankment and into a 60-foot culvert filled with water.
Jansen and another officer went into the culvert but the frightened pooch started running away from them so the officers decided to wait for Canine Officer Matt Abofs.
Once Abofs arrived, he eventually gained the dog's trust and managed to put a leash on her.
Zara was unable to climb up one of the walls so Abofs jumped in the water up to his waist and lifted Zara up and over the wall in the culvert.
Officers met with the owner at the scene and then Jansen drove Zara to the vet.
"She was found with no injuries except for a scratch," said Jansen. "She was in about a foot of water about 45 minutes after she was hit."
The owner had been searching for Zara since last night after the dog got loose.
The entire rescue drama took over an hour and left officers cold and soaking wet.
"While we were in the culvert we had to straddle the water for the full 200-300 feet…all the water from the highway was coming down," said Jansen
"Honestly, though it was probably one of the most rewarding things I've done," she added, laughing. "I'm a dog lover and you know that they're grateful. They don't want anything in return."
And according to the officer, it seems like Zara was ready to end her big adventure because the dog actually started guiding officers out of the tunnel once they got the leash on her.
"We didn't have to fight or try to direct her," said Jansen. "As soon as we got the leash on she was like 'allright, let's get out of here.' She jumped into the police car without any coaxing or anything."
Zara and her grateful owners were reunited.
