Puppy rescued by Patterson firefighters from Delta

Feb. 24—A German Shepherd puppy that was rescued from the Delta-Mendota canal on Thursday soon will be available for adoption.

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The rescue by Patterson firefighters took place behind the Restoration Hardware on Rogers Road around 1:30 p.m., said Jeff Gregory, fire chief for Patterson and West Stanislaus Fire.

A crew doing survey work in the area could hear the puppy barking and called the fire department, Gregory said.

The dog, estimated to be about 10 weeks old, was in a grouping of sticks and other debris that had accumulated near one of the metal gates that control the canal's flow.

In video of the rescue, posted on Facebook by the Patterson Firefighters Association, the puppy is seen trying to climb the ladder firefighters put in the water.

A firefighter climbed the ladder, grabbed the puppy by the scruff of the neck and carried him to safety, the video shows. Gregory said the puppy was in the water for at least 30 minutes prior to the rescue.

The dog was taken to the Stanislaus Animal Services Agency at 3647 Cornucopia Way in Modesto.

The shelter is holding a "name your own price" adoption event today and Saturday.

The German Shepherd puppy won't be available for adoption until Monday but there are dozens of other dogs in need of a home.

"We are currently facing an overcrowding crisis, with dogs of all sizes and ages waiting for their forever homes," the shelter's executive director Vaughn R. Maurice said in an email. "In response to this urgent situation, several donors have stepped up to fund a "Name Your Own Price" adoption event."

"We believe that by offering a "Name Your Own Price" adoption event, we can remove some of the financial barriers that may prevent people from adopting," Maurice said.

The shelter is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

This story was originally published February 24, 2023, 1:36 PM.

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