Police work encompasses numerous responsibilities, including the care of innocent animals, as exemplified by an officer from the Lakeland Police Department in Florida. Officer Kareem Garibaldi was patrolling a Lakeland neighborhood when he unexpectedly encountered a small Pitbull/Boxer mix puppy wandering loose.
After an extensive neighborhood search, Officer Garibaldi could not find the owner, as the puppy lacked a collar and identification. Instead of ignoring the situation, he couldn’t leave the helpless puppy alone on the street. So, he decided to take her with him to the station, offering her shelter and a meal.
Saving ‘Hope’
According to a post by Lakeland PD, Officer Garibaldi took the puppy home at the end of his shift and returned her to the station the following day, determined to reunite her with her owner. He shared her pictures on social media and revisited the area where he found her, but despite his efforts, no owner was found.
“At the end of his 12-hour shift, Officer Garibaldi, on his own time, transported the dog to the SPCA to be checked out. He sat there from 8:45 am to 12:00 p.m. as the vet checked the puppy out,” stated Lakeland PD on their Facebook post.
After his 12-hour shift, the exhausted officer took a quick power nap while waiting for the results. SPCA’s safety net manager, Connie Johnson, witnessed this touching moment and captured a photo that quickly went viral.
“I couldn’t resist taking this picture when I walked into the clinic at SPCA Florida. Officer Kareem went out of his way after working all night to ensure this puppy was safe and sound. Thank you for all you do! You are such an inspiration,” she stated.
Fortunately, the puppy was found to be healthy.
Adopting ‘Hope’
The officer’s unselfish actions did not go unnoticed. “It was a selfless act. He wasn’t concerned about hurrying home to sleep; he was devoted to ensuring the puppy had a chance to survive,” Johnson conveyed to The Dodo. “He even woke up to check if she was okay, then dozed off again.”
After a successful vet check, Officer Garibaldi brought the puppy back to the station, leading to an even more heartwarming turn of events. The dispatcher immediately fell in love with her, and by the day’s end, Hope found her forever home.
According to the police department, she is thriving in her new home, all thanks to Officer Garibaldi.
“It’s the kind-hearted officers like this that make the Lakeland Police Department truly unique. Even after a long weekend, Officer Garibaldi found the energy to help man’s best friend,” commented Lakeland PD in a statement.
For his remarkable compassion and for saving little Hope, Officer Garibaldi received the Hometown Hero Award.
“With everything happening in the world, I just wanted to do one small thing to try to make it better,” he remarked.
