In December she was an anonymous dog in treacherous conditions, somehow perched on a metal girder on the side of the Interstate 95 bridge at Myrtle Avenue .
But with careful precision and tact, officers at Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services rescued her from her precarious plight.
A month later, she has a name — Myrtle, of course — and a fan club at the city shelter. Myrtle also has a new forever home and family.
“Seeing a dog survive a life-threatening situation and go on to thrive in a loving home is nothing short of miraculous,” said Michael Bricker , chief of city animal care. “It reminds me why we do what we do every day. I’m so proud of the team that saved her — they acted with skill, compassion and unwavering dedication in such a critical moment.
“Leading an agency … that helps make these transformations possible is an incredible honor, and it’s a constant reminder of the power of teamwork and community support,” Bricker said.
How 2-year-old mixed-breed Myrtle ended up on an I-95 bridge is unknown. But there she was, 45 pounds of fear.