The bridge is 75 feet above the water.
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Florida sheriff's deputy is being praised for her "fast actions" that saved the life of her K-9 partner during a dramatic moment caught on camera.
Brevard County Sheriff's Deputy Lauren Donaldson saved her K-9 partner Zeppelin when he tried to jump over the guard rail on the 528 Causeway.
Zeppelin was on-leash, walking back from the area where deputies arrested a person and then, without warning, tried to jump over the rail, according to a video posted on Facebook by the sheriff's office.
Donaldson quickly held tight onto his leash, braced her feet against the rail and pulled him back to safety.
The sheriff's office called her rescue "even more amazing" since Zeppelin weighs about 75 pounds and Donaldson "weighs 122 pounds when she is soaking wet and holding a bowling ball."
Without Donaldson's quick thinking, Zeppelin would have fallen about 75 feet into the Indian River and could have died.
"I’m still mad at “Zeppelin” for giving us all a huge scare, but am so grateful that he is okay and unharmed!!" Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in the post.
K9 Deputy Lauren Donaldson Saves K9 Partner ZeppelinK-9 DEPUTY LAUREN DONALDSON’S FAST ACTIONS SAVES K-9 “ZEPPELIN’S” LIFE AFTER HE UNEXPECTEDLY JUMPS OFF 528 CAUSEWAY!!
Recently while returning to her vehicle following a critical incident that resulted in a very fluid scene and felony arrest on top of the 528 Causeway, K-9 Deputy Lauren Donaldson got the scare of her life when her partner, K-9 “Zeppelin,” decided to leap over the bridge’s guard rail and off the bridge that is approximately 75 feet above the surface of the water!!
As you will see in the video, “Zeppelin” was walking on lead coming back from the area of the arrest and without warning, decided to jump over the rail!! Thankfully, Lauren responded quickly to “Zeppelin’s” actions by tightly holding on to his lead, immediately bracing her feet against the railing, and then somehow, reaching over the guard rail and pulling “Zeppelin” back onto the bridge!! Lauren’s rescue of her beloved partner is even more amazing when you consider that “Zeppelin,” a Belgian Malinois weighs approximately 75 pounds and Lauren weighs 122 pounds when she is soaking wet and holding a bowling ball, yet somehow she managed to not panic and pull “Zeppelin” back to safety!! Without Lauren’s fast action there is no question that “Zeppelin” would have fallen approximately 75 feet into the Indian River and most likely to his death!!
Lauren and “Zeppelin” are two time reigning champions in the “Hardest Hitting K-9” category of the Space Coast K-9 Competition and I could not be more proud of Lauren for all she does as a member of our team and to protect our community!! I’m still mad at “Zeppelin” for giving us all a huge scare, but am so grateful that he is okay and unharmed!!
Sheriff Wayne Ivey
Posted by Brevard County Sheriff's Office, Florida (Official) on Thursday, March 21, 2024
