Dec 4, 2008 7:03 pm US/Eastern
Video: NJ Police Rescue Dog, Women From Swamp
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (CBS) ―
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Two women and a lost dog they were searching for were rescued from a swamp in New Jersey by state police.
CBS
CBS 2's Chopper 2 HD was above the scene as another helicopter pulled off a dramatic rescue from a New Jersey swamp. But what made the story so interesting is who is being saved: a dog, finally located a week after disappearing, and some rescuers who got trapped in a marsh trying to bring him back to his owners.
It was a dramatic rescue, with state police pulling up two women and the dog trapped in the muddy swamps of Parsippany.
"I lost my footing, got a little wet, a little cold," says State Police Cpl. Dan Vanco. "We were able to hook the first person to the straps, hoist them back to the aircraft."
CBS 2 News was first on the scene as Deidre Keelen and Sue Zymroz got off the rescue choppers.
"We stood on this tiny little mount of marsh," says Deidre Keelen, one of the two women rescued. "The dog got into the basket with me, a little struggle."
The women, who are with the German Short-haired Pointer Rescue Group, had been searching for the dog named "Foster" for about a week after it went running off from a nearby dog park. The women started following a hawk that was circling over the marsh, hoping it would lead them to Foster. And it did.
"I heard a dog crying yelping and we just started following and we went out into the marshes, but got in a little too deep," says Keelen.
Foster's owners say they're so thankful to everyone.
"It was unbelievable," says Nicole Mancusi. "I can't believe for a week he's been gone and we have him back. It's remarkable."
The women say they are safe thanks to state police.
"They were awesome, they were just so caring and taking care of us," says Keelen. "Go New Jersey State Police!"
"It's a nice feeling to be able to help someone," says Vanco.
Foster will stay overnight at the vet's office for observation. He's got an I.V. hooked to him to help him get back to health. He's dehydrated and lost 20 pounds.
His owners say they're getting a GPS chip hooked to his collar so they don't have to go through the same incident again.
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