A black Labrador retriever-mix named Sadie was rescued by lifeguards after being swept out to sea by a rip current off the coast of San Diego. The incident occurred last month when Sadie escaped from the home where her owners, Alexis Barcellos and Brandon Valdez, were staying during a football game. Utilizing an Airtag on her collar, the owners attempted to track Sadie as she wandered down the coast.
Surfers at Ocean Beach alerted lifeguards about the dog caught in a rip current near the jetty. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department confirmed that a search was initiated, involving both lifeguards and a U.S. Coast Guard boat. Lifeguards Garrett Smerdon and Jack Alldredge joined the search on personal watercraft, dedicating over an hour to locate the missing dog.
As the search continued, lifeguards received instructions to prepare for the possibility of calling off the operation after ten more minutes. Alldredge expressed his hopes, stating, “At that point, I kind of just said, ‘Please let us find this dog.’” Both lifeguards were aware that Labrador retrievers are natural swimmers and resilient fighters, which bolstered their optimism regarding Sadie’s survival.
Just as they were about to conclude their search, Alldredge spotted a figure in the water. “We got closer and closer, and then we realized it was her and we were pretty excited,” he recounted. Upon reaching Sadie, Smerdon noted, “She was super happy to see us, for sure. She was tired.” At the time of the rescue, Sadie was approximately half a mile offshore near South Mission Beach.
After being located, Sadie was transferred to a surf boat, which successfully brought her back to shore. The reunion with her owners was emotional; Barcellos and Valdez expressed their overwhelming gratitude in a video message. Barcellos recalled the moment they learned Sadie was found alive, saying, “We kind of just held our breath, and they were like, and the dog is alive. And we kind of just started crying right away.”
Following the rescue, Sadie suffered some injuries, including damaged paws and nails from her attempts to climb onto the jetty. Barcellos mentioned that they had to carry her around for about a week. Despite her injuries, Sadie has shown great spirit and resilience. Recently, she made her first trip to the pet store since the incident to select a treat and successfully completed a 1.5-mile walk.
Barcellos expressed their relief and joy, stating, “We are just beyond grateful she is home safe with us.” The successful rescue highlights the dedication of lifeguards and the community’s response in unexpected situations, reminding everyone of the bond between pets and their owners.
