Surveillance videos caught quick-acting police officers in Massachusetts as they worked to save the life of a choking puppy that was brought into a police station.
The silent videos, which were shot inside a police station in North Reading, Massachusetts, showed the moment when Megan Vitale and her friend brought a choking nine-week-old St. Bernard puppy into the station for assistance shortly after lunchtime on Sunday.
A distraught Vitale can be seen pacing up and down the hallway as her sweatshirt-wearing friend cradles the puppy, named Bodhi, in his arms.
Surveillance footage caught Megan Vitale (left) and her friend as they rushed into a police station, asking officers to help a choking nine-week-old puppy on Sunday afternoon
First responders performed the Heimlich maneuver and back blows on the puppy
Uniformed officers can then be seen rushing out to examine the puppy and provide help.
‘When officers came around the corner, they found the puppy was not breathing, limp, and unresponsive,’ officials told WCVB.
One officer can then be seen using a version of the Heimlich Maneuver on the puppy. Moments later, members of the fire department, who were stationed in the same building, rushed over to help the puppy.
Through a series of chest compressions, back blows and the application of a specially-designed pet oxygen mask, the first responders were able to get the puppy breathing again.
The nine-week-old St. Bernard, named Bodhi (pictured), had choked while eating lunch that day, after a piece of food went down the wrong pipe
Bodhi had been in Vitale’s (pictured with another dog) possession for less than 24 hours
It turned out that the puppy, who had only been in Vitale’s possession for less than a day, had choked while eating his lunch, after a piece of food went down the wrong pipe.
Bodhi was taken to the vet for treatment after leaving the police station.
Officials told WHDH that firefighters receive special training so they are prepared to respond to pet emergencies.
‘Even though we are not faced with this kind of incident every day, the officers reacted just as they would in any emergency situation,’ Police Chief Michael Murphy said.