When Police Officer Jared Desalvo responded to a call about a dog struggling in the frigid waters of the East River, he had no idea the pup would soon become a cherished member of his family.
A Heroic Rescue on the East River
On March 30, Desalvo, a member of the NYPD Harbor Unit, sprang into action after a passerby reported seeing a small white dog battling the cold, choppy waves near South Street Seaport. Arriving quickly on the scene, Desalvo and his team managed to pull the soaked, shivering Maltese mix onto their boat.
The tiny dog, later named Hudson, was wrapped in a warm towel as officers rushed her to the 1st Precinct for immediate veterinary care. According to Desalvo, the pup had been fighting the current but was otherwise uninjured.
“My family thought she’s very cute, and I’ve been hearing about it since the actual rescue date,” Desalvo said. “They’re constantly asking me: ‘How’s Hudson doing? Did we hear anything? Do we know how she’s doing?’”
A Family’s New Beginning
Despite weeks passing without any claim from an owner, Hudson remained on Desalvo’s mind. His family – wife Nicole and children Salvatore, 9, and Stella, 8 – eagerly followed updates about the little dog’s recovery. On May 10, Desalvo made a heartwarming decision, visiting the Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) in Ridgewood, Queens, to officially adopt Hudson.
The moment was a full-circle celebration for the family. Desalvo arrived ahead of his wife and children to complete the paperwork, surprising them when they arrived.
“It means a lot to my family,” he said. “I think it sets a good example in terms of compassion, making sure that we take care of those that need help. And it’s a unique situation where we get to actually do a little bit more.”
‘Bring My Baby Home’
Nicole recalled the emotional moment she first saw Hudson.
“She’s just an adorable dog,” she said. “Thank God Jared and his partners that day were in the right place at the right time. When he sent me the picture of her on the boat, and she was all wet and wrapped up in the towel, the first message I sent back was, ‘Bring my baby home.’”
Hudson, who had suffered a minor respiratory infection after her ordeal but fully recovered with treatment, now enjoys a loving home with her new family, proving that sometimes, rescues go both ways.