‘Loud yelp’ sets off rescue of beloved dog hit by boat propeller, FL officers say
An unusual rescue played out in a North Florida river when Fish and Wildlife officers discovered a dog had been struck by a recreational boat’s spinning propeller, state officials say.
The incident happened Sunday, Aug. 31, in a wilderness area and involved a dog owned by Steve Johnson, “better known in the Lake City and Live Oak area as WQHL 98.1’s “Cowboy Stevie D,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a news release.
“Officers Cody Clark and Richard Covington were patrolling the Santa Fe River near Sandy Point when they were flagged down by two distressed boaters requesting assistance for their dog named Booey, which had been struck by a boat propeller,” the release said.
“Officer Clark ... applied a tourniquet to Booey’s lacerated leg (and) contacted a nearby emergency veterinary clinic, providing details about the dog’s injuries and alerting them that the couple was on the way.”
Booey suffered “three deep lacerations and a hairline fracture,” officials said. Video released by the FWC shows the dog was calm during the ordeal, not making a sound as the officer worked to stop the bleeding.
Booey is expected to make a full recovery, officials said.
The boat was idling when his dog was hit by the blades, Johnson said in the release.
“We were having a wonderful day on the water,” Johnson said. “We were idling, barely moving, when Rosaly and I heard a loud yelp. I don’t know who suffered more from the shock, Booey or me.”
A veterinarian confirmed the tourniquet applied by Clark played a critical role in the dog’s survival, officials said.
“Officers Clark and Covington were in the right place at the right time and used their skills and training to help bring a happy ending to what could have been a heartbreaking day on the water,” FWC North Central Region Commander Maj. Scott Lee said.
The accident occurred in the Branford area of Suwannee County, about an 85-mile drive west from Jacksonville.
This story was originally published September 12, 2025 at 11:54 AM with the headline "‘Loud yelp’ sets off rescue of beloved dog hit by boat propeller, FL officers say."