Nassau County Police Save Pooch That Was Trapped Under Boat For 1 Hour

A pair of Nassau County officers are being hailed as heroes after they rescued a dog that was trapped under a capsized boat for nearly an hour earlier this week.

Officers Joseph Nappi and John Ciatarella were credited with rescuing a 14-month-old cane corso named Amirah after the pooch got trapped under her owner’s capsized boat in Reynolds Channel on Tuesday.

Authorities said that when the two marine bureau cops responded to the Meadowbrook State Parkway bridge, they found Shaun Morales and the Amirah’s owner, Joseph Aveni, in the water near Aveni’s flipped boat.

Police said that Aveni and Morales told the officers that the dog was missing after they were pulled from the water, and Nappi and Ciatarella did a search. But when they were unable to find Amirah, they figured the dog must be stuck in an air pocket under the boat.

The officers called in a salvage boat to rescue the dog, and were able to pull the boat off the water’s surface about 58 minutes later. That’s when they found Amirah paddling in the water.

The dog was taken to an animal hospital for evaluation after the ordeal, police said.

"This could have ended tragically for everyone involved but it is thanks to their bravery these three were able to escape without injury," the department said in a statement.

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