In Arvin, California, Officer Calderon's quick thinking and bravery were put to the test when he encountered a dog chained near a burning mobile home.
Not only did he scale a 6-foot fence to reach the animal, but he also used his body as a shield to protect the dog from the intense heat.
The rescue operation
Upon hearing about the fire, Officer Calderon immediately rushed to the scene. The dog was initially frightened and tried to run away, but Calderon managed to pull it closer using the chain.
Despite the unbearable heat, he tried various ways to free the dog, including attempting to bend a pin that held two sections of the chain together. When that didn't work, he used hedge clippers he found in the neighbor's yard to finally free the animal.
Impressed by Calderon's heroic act, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) awarded him their Compassionate Action Award. Ashley Byrne, PETA’s director of outreach communications, stated,
"His actions were truly heroic. We hope it will inspire more people to be heroes for animals."
In an interview, Calderon revealed that there was a moment when he thought he would have to give up due to the intense heat.
"My back was already on fire. Whenever I was able to shelter the dog, my back was burning," he said. Despite the physical and emotional toll, he persevered, and both he and the dog emerged from the ordeal unscathed.
You can watch the heroic act in the video below
