[MARINE_BIOLOGY_INTERNATIONAL] Dolphin helps save life of Doberman

Marco Island, FL - Turbo, belonging to Cindy Burnett of Dogwood Drive, slipped through an open fence gate Sunday, Feb. 20, sometime after dark.

The Doberman's sister, Porsche, also strayed, but was later found wandering just a few houses down, Burnett said.
"I was at work (at her Little Caesar's Pizza business), and when I got home, I searched for Turbo from about 9:30 p.m. until 2 a.m.," Burnett said.

She eventually stopped searching; hoping that someone might have stopped to pick up the dog, which Burnett said loves hopping into cars.

Instead, she would find out the next morning, Turbo had made his way down to the South Bahama area about 500 yards from the Burnett home as the crow flies.
At sometime during the night, he is thought to have fallen into the canal.

Next morning, Burnett called the Humane Society and local police, who took down details.

Just before lunch, police received a 911 call from a South Bahama resident who said she'd rescued a dog from a canal after she'd heard and seen a dolphin making a "lot of noise," Burnett said.
The woman told Burnett she'd found Turbo in a corner of the canal.
At that stage, the dog had been able to stand in some sand because of a low tide.

Police called Burnett to tell her the dog had been found, and Burnett rushed down to the area. She had been preparing some posters asking people to look out for her pet.

"He was shivering, and dehydrated, and he had some cuts on his legs I guess from trying to jump out," Burnett said.
She took him home, gave him an electrolyte drink and let him rest until he regained his strength.

Burnett said she forgot to get the neighbor's name.
"I'm so grateful to her," she said. "She told me the dolphin had attracted her attention to Turbo by splashing, making noises and generally causing a ruckus in the water. That's when she saw him (Turbo) in the canal."

Attempts by the Sun Times to contact the neighbor Tuesday and Wednesday at the house were unsuccessful.
"I think it's just a miracle," Burnett said. "I'm so thankful to those people."