Pitiful pup wins deputy's heart after rescue

FORT PIERCE (FOX 13) - From pitiful to posh: A stranded pup, found in a vacant Fort Pierce lot, now has a new home thanks to a St. Lucie County deputy.

According to the sheriff's office, deputies were serving civil process paperwork to a home in Fort Pierce a few weeks ago when they heard the plainful sounds of a whimpering dog.  During a search of the neighboring empty lot, they found an 8-month-old puppy who had apparently fallen into a collapsed septic drain.

They pulled the frightened and exhausted pup out of the hole and gave him several baths while trying to find his owner.  But none of the neighbors had seen him before, and a check at the veterinarian's office revealed he had not been microchipped.

He went home with the deputy who found him, and now answers to the name 'Puddles.'

"The pooped pooch was adopted by the deputy that rescued him and is now enjoying a life in the lap of luxury," a sheriff's office Facebook post said.

In just a few hours, that Facebook post has gone viral, with thousands of 'likes' and hundreds of comments talking about all aspects of the rescue.

"As a septic contractor, this is very common," one person wrote.  "Thankfully this pup was safe and this wasn't a child or person."

"Nothing hotter than a man in uniform rescuing an animal," another commenter added.