Law enforcement responsibilities encompass numerous duties, and at times, it even entails looking after defenseless little creatures. An officer from the Lakeland Police Department in Florida exemplifies this well.
While patrolling one of Lakeland’s communities, Officer Kareem Garibaldi unexpectedly noticed a small Pitbull/Boxer mix puppy wandering freely.
Despite conducting a thorough search of the area, the officer couldn’t identify the owner because the puppy lacked a collar and identification tag.
Rather than ignoring the situation, Officer Garibaldi couldn’t bring himself to abandon the little pup alone on the street. So, what actions did he take?
He picked her up, took her back to the station, and ensured she had a safe place to stay and a nutritious meal.
Rescuing ‘Hope’
As noted in a post by Lakeland PD, Officer Garibaldi took the tiny puppy home following his shift. The subsequent day, he was resolute in reuniting her with her rightful owner, so he returned to work with her.
He even went that extra mile, utilizing social media to post her pictures, plus revisiting the neighborhood where he initially discovered her, in hopes of locating the owner.
Regardless of his earnest endeavors, the hunt bore no fruit.
“At the conclusion of his 12-hour shift, Officer Garibaldi, on his personal time, transported the dog to the SPCA for a health check. He remained there from 8:45am to 12:00 p.m. as the veterinarian examined the puppy,” reported Lakeland PD on their Facebook post.
Coming back from a long shift, the exhausted officer couldn’t help but take a brief power nap while anxiously waiting for the test results.
The safety net manager at the shelter, Connie Johnson, witnessed this touching moment and couldn’t resist capturing a photo, which rapidly circulated on social media.
“I couldn’t resist taking this picture when I arrived at the SPCA Florida clinic this morning. Officer Kareem went so far out of his way after an overnight shift to ensure this puppy was out of harm’s way. Thank you immensely for all your efforts!! You are truly an inspiration,” she mentioned.
Fortunately, the little canine was found to be in good health.
Embracing ‘Hope’
The officer’s altruistic behavior did not escape attention.
“It was undeniably a selfless act. He was not focused on getting home to rest. His thoughts were consumed with how he could assist this puppy in thriving,” Johnson remarked to The Dodo. “At one point, he actually awakened just to check if she was alright, then he returned to slumber.”
After a fruitful examination, Officer Garibaldi returned the puppy to the station, and that’s when an even more heartwarming tale unfolded.
The dispatcher noticed the little puppy and immediately fell for her. By day’s end, Hope was officially taken in.
The police department reported that she is thriving in her new environment, all due to Officer Garibaldi’s efforts.
“It’s compassionate officers like this that make the Lakeland Police Department truly exceptional. After an exhausting weekend, Officer Garibaldi still managed to find the strength at the end of his shift to assist man’s best friend,” stated Lakeland PD in a press release.
For demonstrating remarkable empathy and rescuing little Hope, Officer Garibaldi received the Hometown Hero Award.
“In light of everything happening in the world, I merely wished to do one small deed, to attempt to make it better,” he expressed.
