WASHINGTON — A local police officer says a little dog gave him a good run for his money Tuesday as he raced to rescue it after a fire.
“Lucy and I almost got hit a few times,” D.C. police officer Doug Berlin said of weaving through traffic while chasing after the rat terrier. “Lucy is 11. But she’s a fighter. She runs like she’s two.”
Berlin encountered the traumatized pet while working to make sure everyone escaped an apartment building fire at 11th Street and Rhode Island Avenue Northwest as smoke billowed from the building’s roof.
“On the scene of a fire, there’s very little that the police department can do other than get the people out, get the animals out and that’s what Officer Berlin did,” said Third District Commander Stuart Emerman. “He’s a really good, hardworking officer for us. He’s really engaged with the community.”
Berlin described noticing that Lucy had burned hindquarters and bloody paws as she bolted past him. “I was asking citizens to help me to try to catch her. People were either unsuccessful or unwilling,” Berlin said.
A man on a skateboard who Berlin said turned out to be a dog walker ultimately helped him corner and secure Lucy, who bit the good Samaritan’s arm. While awaiting an ambulance’s arrival for the dog bite, Berlin said neighbors brought water and ice to help cool down Lucy, who appeared to be having respiratory problems.
“She was bleeding so badly, I didn’t’ want her to bleed out so I was like, ‘You guys we have to go — now,’” Berlin recalled. The ambulance took Lucy and Berlin to the nearby CityPaws Animal Hospital.
“I was really struck — listening to him, that he stayed there at the vet hospital,” said Lisa LaFontaine, the president and CEO of the Washington Humane Society and Washington Animal Rescue League. “He recognized right away that that dog was family to someone, because he has a dog that’s family to him.”
LaFontaine presented Berlin with the “Humane Hero Award” at the Third District police station Wednesday. Berlin doesn’t feel like a hero, but his wife was proud.
“She believes in karma. So, she’s hoping that this helps our dog that’s currently got [cancer]; she just had cancer surgery last week,” Berlin said. The Berlins’ Rhodesian ridgeback Chloe — like Lucy — is also eleven.
