NEWS EIGHT鈥橲 SUSAN SHAPIRO HAS THE STORY. NEITHER RAIN NOR SNOW, NOR FREEZING TEMPERATURES KEEP STEVE MALL FROM DELIVERING THE MAIL AT A FAST PACE IN HIGHSPIRE. I鈥橵E BEEN DOING THIS LONG ENOUGH THAT YOU KNOW IT IS WHAT IT IS. AND THE FRIGID WEATHER DIDN鈥橳 KEEP HIM FROM GOING BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY WHILE HE WAS ON A BREAK AT THIS SCENIC SPOT AND SAW A LARGE DOG IN DISTRESS. HIS BACK LEGS JUST COMPLETELY WERE KIND OF IMMERSED DOWN INTO THE WATER HERE. AND EVERY TIME THAT HE WAS PUSHING DOWN, IT SEEMED LIKE HE WAS JUST BREAKING MORE ICE OUT. MY MOM ALWAYS TOLD ME TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU鈥橰E TAKING CARE OF ALL CREATURES, BIG AND SMALL. SO I MADE SURE I HOPPED OUT, GRABBED THE DOG OUT OF THE WATER, TOOK HIM DOWN TO A HIGHSPIRE FAITHFUL POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING WHEN I ENTERED THE DOOR AND HE TELLS ME HE HAS A DOG IN THE BACK OF HIS MAIL TRUCK, AND CAN HE BRING IT IN? IT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, AND HE鈥橲, YOU KNOW, IT鈥橲 JUST STEVE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TOOK IN THE ROTTWEILER THEY NICKNAMED BUD, PROVIDING A WARM SPOT FOR HIM TO CHILL OUT AND PLENTY OF WATER TO DRINK. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS WELL PREPARED WITH A DOG BOWL. AND THESE DOG TREATS. THEY DON鈥橳 WANT TO GIVE HIM ANY OTHER FOOD AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THEY DON鈥橳 KNOW WHAT HE CAN TOLERATE. SIT. HEY, HERE WE GO. HAVING A DOG IN A POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT鈥橲 IT鈥橲 IT鈥橲 FUN. BY LATE AFTERNOON, THE DOG OWNER HAD BEEN FOUND. BUT FOR STEVE MALL, IT WAS ALL IN A DAY鈥橲 WORK. KNOWING WHAT IT鈥橲 LIKE ON THESE COLD DAYS, I JUST COMPLETELY COMPASSION. TOOK OVER A LITTLE PANIC. MAYBE. ALSO, IT WAS TIME TO, YOU KNOW, HOP IN AND TAKE SOME ACTION. SO A LITTLE WET FOOT NEVER HURT ANYBODY. EMOTIONS THAT PROBABLY SAVED THIS GENTLE GIANTS LIFE IN HIGHSPIR
Mail carrier saves dog from icy creek
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Updated: 5:39 AM CST Jan 12, 2025
Steve Mull loves his job as a mail carrier and animals. So it was no surprise that when he took a break Wednesday morning on his route near a creek in central Pennsylvania and noticed a large dog in distress in the icy water, he took action.He says the Rottweiler's back legs were stuck under the ice, and as he pushed with his front legs, he slipped and was not able to get out. Mull hopped into the creek, grabbed the large dog by the elbows and brought him to safety."I know what it's like on these cold days. Compassion took over, and a little panic, to take action. A little wet foot never hurt anybody," he said.Mull took the dog to the local police department, where they nicknamed him Bud and provided him blankets, water and dog treats.Borough employee Debbie Ebersole said of Mull, "When he notices something, he does something. We sure appreciate that here." By late afternoon, the owner had come forward. Mull was glad he may have saved the gentle giant's life."My mom always told me to take care of all creatures," he said.
HIGHSPIRE, Pa. — Steve Mull loves his job as a mail carrier and animals. So it was no surprise that when he took a break Wednesday morning on his route near a creek in central Pennsylvania and noticed a large dog in distress in the icy water, he took action.
He says the Rottweiler's back legs were stuck under the ice, and as he pushed with his front legs, he slipped and was not able to get out. Mull hopped into the creek, grabbed the large dog by the elbows and brought him to safety.
"I know what it's like on these cold days. Compassion took over, and a little panic, to take action. A little wet foot never hurt anybody," he said.
Mull took the dog to the local police department, where they nicknamed him Bud and provided him blankets, water and dog treats.
Borough employee Debbie Ebersole said of Mull, "When he notices something, he does something. We sure appreciate that here."
By late afternoon, the owner had come forward. Mull was glad he may have saved the gentle giant's life.
"My mom always told me to take care of all creatures," he said.
Susan Shapiro
Rottweiler saved from icy creek
