A dog that ran away from his New Jersey home after being scared by fireworks on July 4th, was rescued by police from the lower level of the George Washington Bridge Thursday morning.
Charlie, a 10-year-old Belgian shepard, ran way from from his owner's home in Leonia Wednesday night after he was frightened by the loud fireworks, police said.
Construction workers spotted the dog approximately 11 hours later on one of the bridge's catwalks and called police.
Officer Kameel Jumar repsonded to the scene and found the dog on the catwalk lying near the edge of a 212-foot drop. Jumar, a dog owner himself, placed a collar and leash he had with him on Charlie, keeping the dog safe until help could arrive.
Charlie was rushed to Animal Paradise Hospital and treated for a bite wound on his left hind leg. Police beleived the bite came from a run-in Charlie had with a skunk during his nightlong, three-mile journey. Charlie had also been sprayed by the skunk, police said.
"I can't believe how good he looks after that horrible night," Charlie's owner Tom Robinson told the New York Post, after being reuinted with his dog at the animal hospital. "I wouldn't look half as good if I had a night like that."
Police said Charlie may have been trying to make his way to Robinson's other residence in Manhattan.
Local
“Dogs can do amazing things," Officer Vincent Ascolese of Bergen County Humane Enforcement told the Post. "They have determination and they have fortitude.”
To donate to the Bergen County Humane Enforcement, which is raising funds to build a no-kill shelter, go to their website.
Get the latest from NBC 4 New York anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Get our apps here and sign up for email newsletters here. Get breaking news delivered right to your phone -- just text NYBREAKING to 639710. For more info, text HELP. To end, text STOP. Message and data rates may apply.
