Sometimes, they run into a case where they have to save a poor animal that is on the edge. The hero of today’s story faced one such challenge.

Heart-Breaking Whining From A Septic DrainSource: St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office

Deputies James Gettings, and his colleague, Troy Glover, were serving civil process paperwork to a home in Fort Pierce, Florida.

While leaving the house, they heard something that stopped them in their tracks. A faint whimpering echoed from the distance and they had to look to see what it was.

As the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office recounted on its Facebook page, the deputies followed that cry to a septic drain in an empty lot.

When they saw what it was about, they were shocked. A small, soaked dog was inside with only its head sticking out of the surface. A puppy had become stuck neck deep in a collapsed septic drain.

Without much thinking, the officers sprung into action and quickly managed to get him out of there. Although the dog became agitated when the officer approached him, they were able to drag him out of harm’s way by using a catch pole.

Source: St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office

He was very frightened, but somehow they managed to bathe him, even several times so he would calm down, at least a little.

They didn’t have the heart to just leave him there, so they had to figure out what to do with him.

It Didn’t Take Long For Deputy Gettings To Make A DecisionSource: St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office

The officers immediately began to search the neighborhood to see if anyone knew this dog in order to find its owner.

Unfortunately, they did not have much luck. However, something deep in his heart told Officer Gettings that he should not take this dog to the shelter.

Then, without much thought, he said that he wanted to adopt him and that this was simply fate. He just deeply felt that it was the best move.

And, he was definitely not mistaken. After healing his back legs that weren’t functioning when he was rescued, Puddle, as Gettings called him, was finally in a warm home.

He was lovingly welcomed by his wife, Rachael, their two-year-old daughter, Evelyn, and their basset hound, Lacie.

“He mostly likes to lounge around,” the deputy said in an interview for The Daily Mail. “He loves being home.”

Source: St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office

Puddle, welcome to your new family, and we hope that you will be enjoying your new, warm home for many years to come.