San Francisco, CA – A small dog missing since July 4th was rescued from open water after being found swimming in San Francisco Bay.

The dog, named Prieta, fled its home after being startled by Fourth of July fireworks, according to the Menlo Park Fire Protection District.

Emergency services were alerted on July 16 after a passerby spotted Prieta paddling in the water near East Palo Alto, about 35 miles south of San Francisco.

Prieta had been swimming for about 40 minutes before rescuers reached the dog. The passerby who saw Prieta said it “ran out into the water and just kept swimming”.

Local fire crews, police, and animal welfare officers joined together for what officials described as a “challenging water rescue”.

Ground crews used binoculars to track Prieta before a drone was deployed to identify the dog’s exact location, approximately half a mile off the coast.

Video showed the exhausted dog swimming through the water as birds hovered overhead. The East Palo Alto Police Department said, “Tiny dog escapes marsh, survives aerial assault by an organized gang of seagulls, and is rescued by the Menlo Park Fire Department. 12/10 action movie.”

Rescuers reached Prieta by boat, lifted the tired animal from the waves, wrapped it in a warm jacket, and brought the dog back to land.

Prieta was taken to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA shelter. Staff said the dog arrived “exhausted, scared, and with facial injuries from the ordeal,” before veterinarians treated its scratches and provided a meal and water.

A microchip scan allowed staff to contact Prieta’s owners, who reunited with the dog an hour later. The owner thanked the rescue team, saying they were “forever grateful” for bringing their dog home.

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