Members of the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, along with Animal Control, helped rescue a dog stranded by flood waters on Wednesday.

The black and tan hound mix was stranded on a dry piece of land not far from rushing flood waters that submerged a large area of Slough Loop Road in Decatur County.

Tommy Rentz, the captain of the Sheriff’s Auxiliary, brought out a Sheriff’s Office boat to the area inundated with flood waters from the Big Slough.

Rentz along with Sheriff’s Deputies Rick Ashley and David Ellis and Animal Control Officer Red Harrell unloaded the boat into the flooded street. Ashley and Harrell paddled the boat approximately 100 yards to the dog, which happily came right up to the boat, wagging its tail.

Ashley said the current where the water was rushing over the roadway was very strong. The flood water current has washed away large pieces of the road near where the dog was located.

The dog was taken to the Bainbridge-Decatur Humane Society.

Harrell said he had picked up 18 dogs on April 6 and 31 dogs the day prior, on April 5. He said the Humane Society Shelter is nearing its capacity, and he urges people to help in any way possible. Harrell encouraged friends and family of pet owners who have been displaced by flooding to care for their animals.

Shelter Director Beth Eck with the Humane Society said more than 60 animals were brought in to the shelter on April 5 and April 6 alone. She attributes the increase in the number of animals to a combination of the flooding, the new county animal ordinance and it being puppy and kitten season.

With the shelter nearing capacity, it is necessary to increase the number of animals being euthanized each week, according to Eck. She recommends that people have their pets spay and neutered as well as come and adopt pets from the shelter.

“If you’re going to own a pet, take responsibility and have them fixed,” said Eck.