GARFIELD, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A small pink poodle that took a perilous swim in the Passaic River on Monday was rescued and reunited with her owner by local authorities in a heartwarming story out of Garfield, New Jersey.
A woman called the Garfield Police Department at about 11 a.m. to report that her pink-dyed poodle named Molly escaped from their residence on Aster Lane
The department posted a recent photo of Molly on its Instagram story to ask for help from the public, and officers were first alerted about her whereabouts at 4:15 p.m. when dispatchers received a call reporting a small pink poodle running loose near River Drive and Lanza Avenue.
Officers quickly responded to the scene and eventually located Molly, but had a difficult time capturing her. She continued to elude the authorities before leading the chase down the banks of the Passaic, where she jumped in the frigid waters.
The pink poodle began swimming toward Clifton, stopping at a small island located between the two towns by Dundee Lake.
A joint effort between the Garfield and Clifton Fire Departments, including the use of boats and specialized equipment, firefighters accessed the island and found Molly at about 6:38 p.m.
Molly was cold but unharmed, and the Clifton Animal Control determined she could be returned to the Garfield side of the river to be reunited with her owner.
“The color did help, it's a plant-based vegan pet dye, a huge thank you to the Garfield police station, the rescue team that went beyond,” owner Sandra Caltradrone told ABC7.