When Baltimore Police Officer Dan Waskiewicz responded to a 911 call about a dangerous Pit Bull, he had no idea he was about to meet his future best friend.
When Dan arrived on scene, he found the dog being chased by neighborhood kids who were throwing glass bottles at him.
Rather than seeing a vicious animal, Dan, a lifelong dog lover, saw something else entirely, a frightened dog who simply needed someone on his side.
He called the Pit Bull over, and instead of aggression, the dog walked straight up to him, sat down beside him, and began affectionately licking his hand.
“I’ve always been a dog lover. I’ve had dogs all my life, so coming across him was no problem,” Dan later said. “He didn’t need to be euthanized or anything like that. He just needed somebody to basically love him.”
Dan gave the dog water while waiting for animal control, and rather than letting the situation spiral, he and his partner made the decision to transport the dog themselves to the Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter, known as BARCS.
But Dan couldn’t stop thinking about the dog he’d rescued. Just a few days later, he returned and made the choice to adopt him, giving him the name Bo.
Dan’s quick thinking and compassion later earned him recognition from the Baltimore Humane Society. “Because of Officer Waskiewicz’s astute response, he saved the life of an innocent animal and avoided what could have been a situation with a tragic ending,” said Jen Swanson, executive director of BARCS.
What started as a routine call about a supposedly dangerous dog ended with a scared Pit Bull finally being seen for who he really was, and a police officer gaining a loyal companion for life.
Do you think more officers should be trained to recognize fear over aggression in situations like this?
Source:
goodnewsnetwork – “Compassionate Cop Responds to “Vicious Dog” in Baltimore City”