“She’ll be a great part of our family,” the officer said
- Officer Jared Desalvo of the New York Police Department’s Harbor Unit rescued a Maltese dog from New York City’s East River on April 30
- The NYPD shared on May 10 that Desalvo adopted the canine after no one came forward to claim her
- The dog, named Hudson, will now live with Desalvo, his wife and their two children
A dog who was saved from New York’s East River has a new lease on life — all thanks to one of her rescuers.
The New York Police Department shared on X on Saturday, May 10 that officer Jared Desalvo of the NYPD’s Harbor Unit is adopting a Maltese dog named Hudson, who was rescued from the water by South Street Seaport by him and two others on his team on March 30.
“Every dog has its day, and today Hudson gets to go home with the family of one of her rescuers,” the NYPD wrote alongside a video of Officer Desalvo discussing the adoption.
In the video, Desalvo could be seen holding Hudson, a Maltese estimated to be a year or two old, as he shared her story. He noted that after he and his fellow officers rescued her, she was brought to the Animal Care Center of New York (ACC) for checkups and care.
Hudson was diagnosed with a “respiratory infection” but recovered with the help of antibiotics.
He said Hudson was put in foster care for a few weeks as the ACC waited for someone to claim her. Unfortunately, “no one came forward. But [it presents] a unique opportunity for me and my family. We’ll be adopting Hudson, and she’ll be in good care,” Desalvo shared.
In the video, Desalvo’s children — identified as Salvatore, 9, and Stella, 8, by the NY Daily News — could be seen walking in and greeting the pup before giving her plenty of hugs. He told the outlet that they came in just after he officially completed the adoption paperwork.
“They [believed] that they [were] going to a [Communion] party,” Desalvo told NY Daily News of the surprise. “They [knew] about the rescue and everything. Since that day, they’ve been asking constantly about the status of the dog.”
The dog’s status is that she is now a part of Desalvo’s family permanently — something his kids are ecstatic about. The family appeared happy as they took new family portraits with their new furry companion.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to give her a second chance,” Desalvo told NY Daily News. “She’ll be a great part of our family. She’ll be very well taken care of.”
Hudson was rescued on Sunday, March 30 after the NYPD received a call at around 8:10 a.m. for a dog in the water near the South Street Seaport. NYPD Special Operations Division’s Harbor Unit immediately responded to the scene to pull the dog from the water and wrapped her in a warm blanket.
Animal Care Centers of NYC spokesperson Katy Hansen told PEOPLE after the canine’s rescue that she did not have any form of identification and wasn’t microchipped or wearing a dog license. However, the maltese did enjoy being around people.
“The staff and volunteers love her,” Hansen shared, adding that the pup was “so flipping cute.” “[Hudson] seems to be well looked after and enjoys the company of people.”
