Florida dog jumped into a lagoon and got stranded on an island. Then came the search

Cops in Vero Beach, Florida, made a new furry friend this week.

According to a Facebook post from the local police department, a dog that was on the loose for nearly five days in Indian River County is now in a safer situation, thanks to a few Good Samaritans and law enforcement folks.

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Local authorities said that last Friday, a number of sightings were called in about a German shepherd, which was seen running through traffic off State Road A1A at around 6:30 p.m.

It then ran around near a playground and tennis court, among other grassy spots. About two hours later, it was seen jumping into the Indian River Lagoon, police say.

The dog managed to paddle to one of the estuary’s spoil (artificial) islands as the search intensified. From roughly 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. that night, police and fire-rescue teams searched for the animal with no luck.

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The rescue crews worked at various points throughout the weekend searching for the pup. Vero Beach animal control officers also set up lure traps with food and water around the island.

By Tuesday, the dog was captured inside a cage, pictures on the FB post show.

The animal was later found to be microchipped with a GPS tracker that stored the owner’s information that included the dog’s name, which is Blaze, and age, about 6 years old.

Vero Beach police spokesperson Kelsea Marty says the owner did not respond to the calls saying the pet was found and no one reported him missing. She called him “the sweetest dog ever.”

Happy ending: The Humane Society of Vero Beach told the Miami Herald Friday that one of the officers on site to help rescue Blaze will foster him, and that the dog is “doing well.”