We come across tons of animal stories, but this one has left us floored…

Recently, a woman tragically died after her SUV plunged 70 feet into the Ohio River from a railroad bridge. Somehow, a little dog who was also in the vehicle survived and was found hours later along the shore. The dog managed to not only survive the SUV’s impact but also managed to reach the water’s surface and the swim to shore, an estimate distance of 100 yards. A local plant manager for NRG Energy, Kevin Panzio heard the pup barking as he left work.

“Sure enough, I could hear him down there, barking. The bank was very, very steep and very thick with brush. He couldn’t make it up on his own. I was able to see him, tried calling him, he wouldn’t come up,” Panzino told Pittsburgh’s Action 4 News.

The dog patiently waited as Panzino slid down the river bank from the plant and rescued him. “I picked him up and he was calm, just like this. (I) managed to make it up the bank – barely – and took him back into the power plant in the control room, where we kind of cleaned him up a little bit. He was still wet. Smelled like wet dog,” said Panzino.

The dog, aptly named Lucky, seen here with Panzino, was checked out at the Humane Animal Rescue, an animal shelter in Pittsburgh, Pennslyvania. 

Aside from what looks to be a pre-existing eye condition, Lucky has no major injuries, with Dr. Donna Hughes noting, “All in all, it looks like he handled his adventures well. Dogs, they live in the moment, so they want to survive. They want to persist. And they do whatever they need to do to survive. And that’s what he did.”

Humane Animal Rescue says that Lucky will receive pain medication and antibiotics over the next couple of days. If no one from the family of Lucky’s deceased guardian comes to claim him, he already has a forever home with one of the plant workers who has fallen in love with the survivor. 

Not only did Lucky survive the fall … so did a cat. She was found swimming in the Ohio river near the crash site. Sadly, unlike Lucky, she did suffer injuries and was rushed to the Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center. With her blood pressure unable to be stabilized & her abdominal wound septic, she didn’t survive.

We are so thankful for the compassionate people who stepped up to help both animals. Even though the cat didn’t survive, we know all efforts were made to save her. In a touching act of kindness, the power plant where Panzino works, NRG Energy, plans on covering all of the expenses for both the dog and the cat.

Be sure to share this incredible animal rescue story with all of the animal lovers you know. And if you happen to come across a dog or cat, or any other animal in need, check out these Animal Rescue Hotlines.

Image source: Humane Animal Rescue/Facebook