It took a thermal imaging drone to find her.
On Saturday, February 28, 2026, officers from Happy Valley Police and crews from Clackamas Fire District responded to a retention pond in Happy Valley, Oregon, after reports of a dog trapped inside the enclosed, one-acre water feature. What they found was a rescue challenge: the pond was choked with dense blackberry bushes, cattails, and waist-high, muddy water — the kind of terrain that swallows footsteps and hides frightened animals completely.
She was clearly injured. Clearly cold. And every time first responders got close, she bolted deeper into the vegetation.
Multiple ground attempts failed. The dog was too frightened, the terrain too difficult, the water too deep and unpredictable to safely pursue her on foot.
So Clackamas Fire did what the situation demanded: they launched a drone.
Equipped with thermal imaging, the unmanned aircraft scanned the surface of the pond and located the dog almost immediately — standing in nearly two feet of water, completely concealed by thick reeds, invisible to the naked eye. The drone locked on. Ground crews moved to the precise position it identified.
The dog was secured.
First responders on scene named her 'Sweetie' — a name that suited her, despite the ordeal. She was transported to VCA Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Happy Valley, where vets treated her for multiple superficial wounds and exposure. She was expected to remain under observation for 24 to 48 hours.
Officials confirmed she had no licence or microchip, and her ownership was unknown. A full investigation into her wellbeing was launched.
The best part? Sweetie recovered. She's healthy. And once she clears evaluation, she'll be available for adoption through Clackamas County Dog Services — ready for a home that will never let her end up alone in a flooded pond again.
From stranded in a freezing retention pond to up for adoption and loved — Sweetie's week took quite a turn. 🐾