Dog With Epilepsy Missing After Monsoon Rescued From Canal By Arizona Firefighters

As powerful monsoon storms swept through Mesa, Arizona this past week, a beloved family dog disappeared, leaving his owners fearing the worst.

The Melzer family had let Ansel into their backyard to potty, unaware the gate had been left open. Frightened by the storm, the dog slipped out and vanished.

But this wasn’t just any missing dog. Ansel has epilepsy, making every passing hour without him even more worrying. He was also a very fast runner, meaning he could be far away from home very quickly. His family searched urgently, fearing he could suffer a seizure while lost and alone.

Kathryn Melzer immediately headed to the nearby canals, knowing that Ansel was drawn to them. Her older daughters, cross-country runners, got up early to run through the neighborhood, along the canals trails trying to find him.

As hope began to fade, firefighters with Mesa Fire Department received a report of a dog trapped in a canal. When they arrived, they found Ansel desperately swimming in circles, exhausted and struggling against the rushing water. No one knew how long he had been there.

With storm runoff creating dangerous currents and hidden debris lurking beneath the surface, firefighter Anthony Abbadessa climbed into the canal while the rest of his crew worked together to support the rescue from above. Shopping carts, branches, and other discarded objects often collect inside the canals, making the work treacherous for Anthony, but he carefully made his way over to Ansel and was able to lead him to safety.

The tired dog was taken to a nearby veterinary clinic, but there was one problem—Ansel wasn’t microchipped. So the firefighters brought Ansel back to the fire station where he could rest and the search for his family continued.

Fortunately, the veterinary staff later spotted a social media post about a missing dog that matched him perfectly. The moment Ansel arrived home, the Melzer children ran outside and threw their arms around the dog they had feared they would never see again.

For the firefighters, seeing that reunion was every bit as rewarding as the rescue itself. Seeing the family’s relief and joy made the challenging rescue worthwhile.