Yesterday, during the early afternoon hours between 2PM and 3PM, the men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) put on their boots and uniforms, hopped into their fire truck, and headed down to the LA River to rescue Scooby the German Shepard Mix, his human, and a good Samaritan from the raging waters that came rolling in over the concrete bed after over an inch of rain had swollen the river.

At this moment, there are those of you who are wondering, “Why were Scooby and his human walking on a concrete river bed?”

Due to LA not getting any more than a spit of water, here and there from January 1, 2022 to March 27, 2022, Scooby’s owner most likely thought it was safe to take a stroll down LA River’s concrete bed.

“It’s March and here the concrete bed is still showing,” is what Scooby’s owner most likely thought to herself.

Besides, it’s been three months and 13 days, Tuesday, December 14, 2021, since anybody or things been swooped up by LA River and taken down stream.

The anybody is the human who was pulled out alive from the river and the two things that were pulled out were a Toyota Camry and a sedan.

The human is still alive. The Camry and sedan, however, didn’t make it. The auto mechanics tried their best to save the Camry and the sedan but being submerged in all of that water was just too much for the Camry and sedan’s auto parts to handle.

Those stories are quite common in LA. Folk know they have to be careful hanging out, down by that river because they can easily be swooped up and taken to Hades.

The LAFD warns folks to be mindful of the fact that “Merely six inches of fast-moving water can sweep a person off their feet. It takes only 12 inches to move most cars off a road.”

Being a resident of LA, Scooby’s owner most likely knew about the stories and the LAFD’s warning.

It’s just that the river not resting on its concrete bed for over three months was most likely enough for Scooby’s owner to believe that walking on the concrete river bed wouldn’t place her and Scooby in a position whereby they would become that which a bed of roses would be planted in.

As always, Mother Nature had other ideas. She decided it was high time to pour over an inch of water on LA. The water came down so fast that it had swollen the river which then flowed out onto the concrete river bed. Folks, at the top, on higher ground, saw what was going on and immediately sprung into action, taken out their cell phones dialing the real 9-1-1. Here’s how the call more than likely went:

        "9-1-1, what is your emergency?"

         "A dog is caught up in the river."

        "A dog is caught up in the river?"

        "Yes, he’s caught up in the river. The river wasn’t there and
         then suddenly, out of nowhere, the river was there."

        "Ok ma’am. Is anyone else with the dog?"

        "A lady but the dog is caught up in the river."

        "Is the lady in the river with the dog?"

        "Yes…but the dog is in the river."

        "Ma’am, we’re sending help for the dog and the lady."
   
        "Ok! Thanks!"

The LAFD arrived on the scene , lowered a ring down for the female human but she refused because it would’ve required her to let go of her Scooby Dooby Doo.

Seeing that the woman was going to go down with Scooby, the LAFD lowered a firefighter down into the river and grabbed the woman. Scooby went running down the river, at times being moved by the 5 to 10 miles per hour current.

There were several times the LAFD tried grabbing Scooby, but he just ran away from them because he saw them as “stranger danger.”

Seeing that the LAFD was having trouble rescuing Scooby, a young, healthy- 28-year-old man thought he’d give it a go. So, he jumped into the water to save Scooby.



But, Scooby looked at him the same way he looked at the LAFD which is as “stranger danger.” Scooby fought the young man, bit him, and scratched him. Undeterred by the fight that Scooby was putting up, the young man held on until the water decided that Scooby and the man needed some space.

Well, needless to say, the LAFD didn’t like that show of attempted heroism because it placed them at risk: “While the desire to help is understandable, this type of action is extremely dangerous. It not only puts the life of the bystander at risk but now creates another victim for the firefighters to handle.”

“Lucky to be alive” is what the LAFD says the 28-year-old, healthy young man is. And they’re right! He’s lucky to be alive. His playing the hero could have easily caused his mama to have a lifetime of heartache and pain.

He knew he wasn’t in Navy Seal type shape to fight that water and that dog. Heck, that’s why after the LAFD saved him, he collapsed to the ground. Just look at him!



Hm, they blacken his face so nobody could see him.

Having said that, it’s understandable that the young man was trying to do a good thing. But, there are times, which that was, when a person needs to leave doing good to the professionals. In that case, the professionals included the LAFD’s Swift Water Rescue Team and the LA Animal Services Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team (SMART). Fortunately for everybody involved and Scooby, Scooby was able to get to a point whereby he could stand up on all four legs.

Being the professional rescuers that they are, the LAFD waited for Scooby, formed a circle around him, and then placed the rescue strap on him.

Everybody was happy! 

        "They saved the dog!"

        "Oh, look at him. He’s so cute."

        "Where’s his owner, putting him in danger like that?!"

        "Oh, you poor dear, we’re going to get you some help."

        "Yay!"

They rescued Scooby!