When Police Officer Jared Desalvo responded to a call about a dog struggling in the frigid waters of the East River, he had no idea the pup would soon become a cherished member of his family.
A Heroic Rescue on the East River
On March 30, Desalvo, a member of the NYPD Harbor Unit, sprang into action after a passerby reported seeing a small white dog battling the cold, choppy waves near South Street Seaport. Arriving quickly on the scene, Desalvo and his team managed to pull the soaked, shivering Maltese mix onto their boat.
The tiny dog, later named Hudson, was wrapped in a warm towel as officers rushed her to the 1st Precinct for immediate veterinary care. According to Desalvo, the pup had been fighting the current but was otherwise uninjured.
“My family thought she’s very cute, and I’ve been hearing about it since the actual rescue date,” Desalvo said. “They’re constantly asking me: ‘How’s Hudson doing? Did we hear anything? Do we know how she’s doing?’”
A Family’s New Beginning
Despite weeks passing without any claim from an owner, Hudson remained on Desalvo’s mind. His family – wife Nicole and children Salvatore, 9, and Stella, 8 – eagerly followed updates about the little dog’s recovery. On May 10, Desalvo made a heartwarming decision, visiting the Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) in Ridgewood, Queens, to officially adopt Hudson…