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George Gongora/Caller-Times

Ernie Cochran, shelter director of Peewee’s Pet Adoption, holds a Pomeranian found injured near Packery Channel last week. The dog has been treated and is in good shape, but the search for his owner continues.

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Know the owner?
To claim the dog, call Ernie Cochran at 510-0862

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Dog needs help, fur real
Pooch found at beach, nursed back to health; search is on for owner

By Barbara Ramirez Caller-Times
November 25, 2006








It's been said all dogs go to heaven, but thanks to a Corpus Christi police officer, one tough Pomeranian pooch didn't have to find out.

The nearly 12-pound dog had his life turned upside down after a trip to the beach left the elderly dog washed up near Packery Channel last week.

Police officer John Schultz found the dog - who wasn't wearing tags - about 10 days ago while patrolling the beach south of the channel, he said. Two women told him a man had been searching for a dog earlier in the week after his kayak flipped, but with no luck.

The dog's hero quickly snapped into action, wrapping the wet, limp animal in a towel and heading to a veterinarian on Padre Island. The cost of helping the little guy out? Several hundred dollars. Luckily, Schultz said, the vet cut him a break on part of the bill.

It was to the Schultz home after that.

"He liked everybody but my wife," Schultz said. "We were getting along real good until my chocolate lab figured he didn't like him. I think he was getting jealous."

And why not?

The 10- to 12-year-old dog took quickly to Schultz - following closely at his side and sleeping beside him.

Friday, Schultz left his beach buddy in the care of Ernie Cochran, shelter director of Peewee's Pet Adoption.

People have volunteered to take the dog, Schultz said, but he didn't want the dog to go to anyone but its owner.

"He's alive by the grace of God," Cochran said Friday, brushing her face up against the dog's healthy, shiny fur.

Nurturing the dog in her arms, Cochran held him over about 30 others that barked at her feet and climbed her legs, begging for her attention at the no-kill shelter on Saratoga Boulevard.

"The police officer is super awesome," Cochran said.

Corpus Christi Police Chief Bryan Smith said Schultz's reaction is a good example of what an officer would do.

"I've always believed in the saying that you can see a person's compassion by the way they treat animals, children and waitstaff when they think no one is looking," Smith said. "This definitely displayed the compassion of this officer - not just extended to humans, but animals as well."

Contact Barbara Ramirez at 886-3792 or ramirezb@ caller.com
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Fishing and Kayaking its a rough life but somebody has to do it.