A New York Police Department officer who rescued a small dog from the frigid waters of the East River has made the animal a permanent member of his family after six weeks passed with no owner coming forward.
Officer Jared Desalvo of the NYPD Harbor Unit officially adopted the white Maltese, named Hudson, on May 10 at the Animal Care Centers of NYC facility in Ridgewood, Queens, turning a dramatic rescue into a heartwarming reunion.
The story began on March 30 when a concerned citizen spotted the small dog struggling against the current near South Street Seaport. Desalvo and his fellow officers responded to the scene, pulling the exhausted animal from the cold waters and wrapping her in a towel. The dog, later named Hudson after another New York waterway, was handed off to officers from the 1st Precinct for veterinary examination before being transferred to Animal Care Centers.
“My family thought she’s very cute, and I’ve been hearing about it since the actual rescue date,” Desalvo said. “They’re constantly asking me: ‘How’s Hudson doing? Did we hear anything? Do we know how she’s doing?'”
After being rescued, Hudson developed a respiratory infection but recovered following antibiotic treatment while in the shelter’s care. Despite efforts to locate the dog’s original owner, no one came forward to claim her.
Desalvo arrived at the shelter ahead of his wife Nicole and their children—9-year-old Salvatore and 8-year-old Stella—to complete the adoption paperwork and surprise them with the news of their newest family member.
“It means a lot to my family. I think it sets a good example in terms of compassion, making sure that we take care of those that need help,” said Desalvo. “It’s a unique situation where we get to actually do a little bit more.”
The officer’s wife recalled the moment she first saw a photo of the rescued dog still wet from the river. “When he sent me the picture of her on the boat, and she was all wet and wrapped up in the towel, the first message I sent back was bring my baby home,” Nicole Desalvo said.
The children reportedly “lit up with joy” when their father revealed that the dog he had rescued would now become a permanent part of their family, creating what officials described as a “full-cycle moment.”
The adoption comes as part of a pattern of NYPD officers occasionally adopting animals they rescue. According to the Animal Care Centers of NYC, dogs like Hudson are typically held for a period to allow owners to reclaim them before being made available for adoption.
“She’s just an adorable dog. Thank God Jared and his partners that day were in the right place at the right time,” Nicole added, as the family welcomed their newest four-legged member.
The Harbor Unit, which conducted the initial rescue, is responsible for patrolling New York City’s 576 miles of waterfront and responding to various emergencies, from stranded boaters to, on occasion, animals in distress in the city’s waterways.
