Police Dog Saved After Inexplicably Jumping From 75-Foot Bridge

Brevard County, FL – A deputy with quick reflexes saved her K-9 partner from serious injury or possibly death after the dog inexplicably jumped over the side of a 75-foot bridge on top of the 528 Causeway.

The dog, Zeppelin, was on a lead after assisting K-9 Deputy Lauren Donaldson with an arrest. For reasons unknown, the dog pulls to the guardrail and leaps over, seemingly realizing the error of his ways at the last moment (video shows his front paws clinging to the bridge deck).

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office recounts the harrowing rescue:

Thankfully, Lauren responded quickly to “Zeppelin’s” actions by tightly holding on to his lead, immediately bracing her feet against the railing, and then somehow, reaching over the guard rail and pulling “Zeppelin” back onto the bridge!! Lauren’s rescue of her beloved partner is even more amazing when you consider that “Zeppelin,” a Belgian Malinois weighs approximately 75 pounds and Lauren weighs 122 pounds when she is soaking wet and holding a bowling ball, yet somehow she managed to not panic and pull “Zeppelin” back to safety!!

Sheriff Wayne Ivey writes:

Lauren and “Zeppelin” are two time reigning champions in the “Hardest Hitting K-9” category of the Space Coast K-9 Competition and I could not be more proud of Lauren for all she does as a member of our team and to protect our community!! I’m still mad at “Zeppelin” for giving us all a huge scare, but am so grateful that he is okay and unharmed!!