An Atlantic City police officer went to great depths to help an injured dog this month.
Matt Schmidt, a humane law enforcement officer, was called to a vacant lot at Murray Avenue and West Riverside Drive at about 12:30 p.m. Oct. 15, for an abandoned dog.
The male tan-and-white dog was limping and had an unusual amount of redness to his skin, according to the report.
Police body-camera footage and video from the Atlantic City Fire Department obtained by BreakingAC tells the tale.
The dog is seen running back and forth barking as Schmidt approaches him and Kathleen James of Animal Control tries to get the dog using a catch pole.
He was not going for it.
In fact, the dog lost his limp as he continued to dodge capture.
James was able to position her catch pole just right so that the dog ran headfirst into the loop meant to help contain him.
But he hit the loop with such force, it knocked the pole out of James' hand, leaving the dog with a new accessory.
He took off with the loop around his neck, finding an unmanned opening in the lot.
Schmidt then got in his marked vehicle and give chase.
"Run out of gas already," Schmidt said at one point, as the dog ran down the sidewalk with the officer in his vehicle, window rolled down in an attempt to coax the dog into pulling over, so to speak.
"Stop. You're OK," the officer told the dog.
"Kat, he went in the water," Schmidt says to James as he walks toward the bay.
James is heard at one point saying that Schmidt called the Fire Department and the Coast Guard to help, but had no response. She also was surprised no one was out on a boat on such a clear day.
Schmidt handed over his gun and other belongings to Officer Lauren Downey as he stripped down to go in after the dog.
"It's going to be cold," he is warned.
He shrugs as he indicates there are no other options.
Drone footage from the Fire Department shows the scene after Schmidt hooks onto the dog with his own bite stick.
The officer is able to swim to shore with his four-legged fugitive after nearly 15 minutes in the water.
A man nearby who came to help takes hold one of the poles around the dog's neck as Schmidt tries to figure out his footing to maneuver the rocks as he is wet and barefoot.
James takes it from there, assuring the officer the dog will be checked out and taken care of.
The dog is currently in the Atlantic County Animal Shelter in Pleasantville.
The owner came forward, but no details were immediately available.
Schmidt is one of two Humane Law Enforcement officers with the department. They respond to and investigate cases involving animals and any potential abuse investigations.
Right before getting to the dog, Schmidt scooped up a seagull who was struggling with a broken wing. The bird was taken for help, but had to be humanely euthanized.
