FNQ police officer honoured for brave effort to rescue stranded dogs

A Far North police officer who rescued two puppies from a car bonnet in a flooded river has adopted one of the puppies and named it after the waterway it was saved from.

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A FAR North police officer who rescued two puppies from a car bonnet in a flooded river has adopted one of the puppies and named it after the waterway it was saved from.

Sen-Constable Ben Lloyd, who is based at Coen, was awarded an RSPCA Meritorious Award this morning, for his actions a year ago when he waded chest-high into the swollen Archer River during wet season flooding, plucked the two dogs from the submerged bonnet and carried them to safety.

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During a Combined Awards Ceremony at Cairns Regional Council he revealed he decided to keep one of the dogs and name it River, while a neighbour kept the other and christened it Archer.

“I’m really appreciative to the RSPCA (for the award) and I’m also very lucky because we kept the dogs,” he said.

“They’re beautiful dogs. She goes with me everywhere.”

The five-week-old puppies had been abandoned after a man deliberately drove across a flooded causeway and was washed into the river.

Now and then: Dogs Archer and River who were rescued from the bonnet of a car in a swollen river in Cape York.

Speaking at the time of the incident RSPCA Far North regional inspector Laura Harland honoured Sen-Constable Lloyd’s efforts.

“(His) quick-thinking actions saved the lives of two puppies in such terrifying circumstances,” she said.

“It’s excellent that the puppies have survived the incident unscathed due to these incredible efforts.”

Originally published as FNQ police officer honoured for brave effort to rescue stranded dogs