Officer Answers ‘Vicious Dog’ Call And Finds A Scared Pit Bull Who Becomes His Family

The dog was already being called “vicious” before Baltimore police officer Dan Waskiewicz met him.

But when Waskiewicz arrived to investigate the complaint in 2012, he found a frightened pit bull. Children were chasing him and throwing glass bottles, according to contemporary reporting from WBAL.

The officer took time to watch what was happening. Then he gave the dog a chance to come closer.

That small invitation became the beginning of a life together.

A little water and a gentle welcome

In his firsthand account shared with Modified K9, Waskiewicz described receiving a call about a dog chasing children. When he reached the scene, people were yelling out their windows at the animal.

He followed the dog into an alley to observe his behavior. A dog lover himself, Waskiewicz got out of his patrol car and called him over.

The pit bull approached with his tail tucked between his legs, panting.

Waskiewicz reached for his water bottle. The dog sat down beside him and began licking his pants as the officer offered him water.

It’s the moment in this story that stays with me. Amid all the shouting, someone had stopped to notice a thirsty, frightened dog and offer help.

The officer wanted to do more

Waskiewicz and his partner took the dog to a shelter in the back seat of their patrol car.

By then, the encounter had become something personal for the officer. He wanted to give this dog more than a safe ride.

“I decided that I wanted to keep the dog,” Waskiewicz wrote in the account later published by Good News Network.

He spoke with the shelter about the adoption process. Soon, the pit bull had a name, Bo, and a place in his rescuer’s family.

The original Modified K9 post included a photograph of Bo with his new household. The dog who had been the subject of a police complaint now had someone willing to take responsibility for his future.

Bo’s story reached far beyond Baltimore

As the rescue story spread, Waskiewicz’s kindness drew the attention of the Baltimore Humane Society.

The organization honored him for his compassionate response, recognizing how his calm observation had helped Bo. Orvis covered the recognition in August 2012, sharing the story of the officer and the dog he had adopted.

There’s plenty to love about that happy ending. But for me, the heart of it is what happened before anyone was watching or offering an award.

Waskiewicz saw a dog with his tail tucked. He offered water, arranged a safe ride and followed through on bringing him home.

Bo’s new life began with an officer answering a call. It became a family because that officer kept caring after the call was over.

If Bo and Officer Waskiewicz’s story warmed your heart, consider sharing it. You might inspire someone to give a frightened dog a chance and a loving home.

Read more heartwarming rescue stories:

Everyone Thought This Tiny Puppy Would Never Walk. Sixty Days Later, She Ran

She Was Found Curled Up in the Forest. Then Vets Discovered What Was Hiding Inside Her