Firefighter Bitten in Dog River Rescue

Los Angeles - The Los Angeles Fire Department has now received an "abundance of requests" on how to send cards and donations to the German shepherd rescued by a helicopter crew from the Los Angeles River channel in Vernon, authorities said today.

The dog, named Vernon by the firefighters for the city where he was rescued, was caught in the steep-sided concrete channel by several inches of fast-moving storm runoff around 11:30 a.m. Friday near Washington Boulevard.

A bridge was shut down as fire engines, ambulances and helicopters -- including media choppers -- swarmed the scene.

The dog ran from initial rescue attempts. But a firefighter lowered down by cable from a helicopter into the water then tackled the dog, which put up a fight before being lifted to safety.

The dog was transported by ambulance to the SEAACA animal facility at 9777 Seaaca St. in Downey, where handlers said his claws were bleeding from the struggle to climb the concrete river channel.

Firefighter Joe St. Georges' dog bite injury was heavily bandaged later when he appeared in television interviews. St. Georges didn't blame the dog.

City fire personnel reasoned that if they hadn't rescued the dog, then somebody else would have tried and that person may have required rescue assistance.

The Los Angeles River in its current form is a man-made concrete flood control channel, which carries torrents of water after heavy rains. Swift-water rescue technique in Southern California has evolved to deal with the man-made hazard.

Cards and donations for the rescued dog may be sent to:

LAFD Admin, Attn: Dog Rescue.
200 N. Main St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012