โThank you for being this dogโs Knight in shining armor!โ
When Deputy Sheriff Josh Fiorelli went viral, it wasnโt the kind of attention that the Florida Osceola County Sheriffโs Department was used to receiving.
But, thankfully they were in the spotlight for a very sweet reason!
Carlos Irizzy, of Kissimee, was out for his usual walk that day when he spotted something unusual on the side of the road. A cop was sitting down in the grass, gently petting and whispering words of assurance to something hidden underneath his jacket.
As he got closer, Carlos could see that the officer was actually comforting a white dog, who had been left on the side of the road in a very recent hit-and-run accident.
When asked why he plopped down on the grass and sat down next to the poor little girl, Deputy Fiorelli told WFTV that:
โIt was cold out. She was wet. She didnโt have anyone there so I decided to be that person.โ
He didnโt actually know that anyone was looking at him, or even taken pictures, while he comforted the dog, who was later named Fiona.
โI know a lot of dogs become defensive when they get hurt. She was not defensive at all. She was acceptive of me trying to pet her and take care of her.โ
Deputy Fiorelli didnโt know it at the time, but Fiona had suffered from horrible injuries, including a dislocated back leg, injuries to her front leg, and a pelvic fracture. Vets later discovered that she might have possible nerve damage, too!
Having him there must have been a godsend for the poor little girl who must have so alone and been in so much pain!
Fiona didnโt have a collar or microchip, so the Osceola County Animal Shelter, where she is being cared for her injuries, couldnโt track down her owner.
Of course, she could have very well been one of the hundreds of strays that roam the streets every single year. But, that doesnโt mean the pup didnโt deserve lots of love and attention!
Deputy Fiorelli hopes that Fiona will get to find her fur-ever home. More importantly, he wants her new owner, and all dog owners, to really consider getting their fur babies a dog collar or microchip.
โKeep an eye on them. They may only be a part of your life, but youโre their whole life.โ
Social media was quick as usual to respond to this feel good cop story once they got wind of it.
One Facebook user gushed:
โThank you Deputy Fiorelli for doing the job which you are so obviously meant to do. Such a kind and caring person, not everyone would show such compassion for an animal that was hurt. You are a credit to your profession and uniform, a great example of a great police officer. God bless you.โ
Another user complimented Fiorelli on his big old heart:
โThank you deputy!! You are a special man!!โ
Other sweet comments, like this one, also kept pouring in:
โThank you for being this dogโs Knight in shining armor!โ
In a world that is sometimes rife with bad cop stories, Deputy Sheriff Fiorelliโs actions has helped tip the balance in favor of all the good cops out there who deserve to be recognized for their vastly under-reported acts of kindness.
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