Photos: Cedar Rapids Fire Department water rescue team responds to call to rescue dog

When rescuers got close, the dog showed his teeth, swam to the opposite shore, and was later reunited with his owner.

Apr. 18, 2025 6:53 pm

Cedar Rapids Fire Department water rescue team members attempt to rescue Riddick from the Cedar River off Mays Island in Cedar Rapids on Friday. Riddick had been on the loose after getting away from owner Michele Murphy during an outing to Mount Trashmore. Cedar Rapids Fire Department water rescue team entered the east side of the river in an attempt to rescue the dog. Riddick growled at their rescue attempt and swam to the west side of the river where Murphy was trying to coax him to shore. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Riddick swims in the Cedar River as rescuers and bystanders try to coax him to shore in in Cedar Rapids on Friday. Riddick had been on the loose after getting away from owner Michele Murphy during an outing to Mount Trashmore. Cedar Rapids Fire Department water rescue team entered the east side of the river in an attempt to rescue the dog. Riddick growled at their rescue attempt and swam to the west side of the river where Murphy was trying to coax him to shore. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Michele Murphy (center, right) of Cedar Rapids watches as her dog Riddick swims in the Cedar River away from rescuers near the Linn County Courthouse in southwest Cedar Rapids on Friday. Riddick had been on the loose after getting away from Murphy during an outing to Mount Trashmore. Cedar Rapids Fire Department water rescue team entered the east side of the river in an attempt to rescue the dog. Riddick growled at their rescue attempt and swam to the west side of the river where Murphy was trying to coax him to shore. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Riddick (center) showed some teeth at would-be rescuers, Cedar Rapids Fire Department water rescue team members, in the Cedar River off Mays Island in Cedar Rapids on Friday. Riddick had been on the loose after getting away from Murphy during an outing to Mount Trashmore. Cedar Rapids Fire Department water rescue team entered the east side of the river in an attempt to rescue the dog. Riddick growled at their rescue attempt and swam to the west side of the river where Murphy was trying to coax him to shore. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Michele Murphy (right) of Cedar Rapids holds her dog Riddick as she talks to Cedar Rapids Fire Department’s Eric Nygaard (left) after Riddick was lured from the Cedar River behind the McGrath Amphitheatre in southwest in Cedar Rapids on Friday. Riddick had been on the loose after getting away from Murphy during an outing to Mount Trashmore. Cedar Rapids Fire Department water rescue team entered the east side of the river in an attempt to rescue the dog. Riddick growled at their rescue attempt and swam to the west side of the river where Murphy was trying to coax him to shore. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Fire Department’s Eric Nygaard (left) pets Riddick as owner Michele Murphy (right) holds on to him after Riddick was lured from the Cedar River behind the McGrath Amphitheatre in southwest in Cedar Rapids on Friday. Riddick had been on the loose after getting away from Murphy during an outing to Mount Trashmore. Cedar Rapids Fire Department water rescue team entered the east side of the river in an attempt to rescue the dog. Riddick growled at their rescue attempt and swam to the west side of the river where Murphy was trying to coax him to shore. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Michele Murphy of Cedar Rapids talks to her dog Riddick after he was lured from the Cedar River behind the McGrath Amphitheatre in southwest in Cedar Rapids on Friday. Riddick had been on the loose after getting away from Murphy during an outing to Mount Trashmore. Cedar Rapids Fire Department water rescue team entered the east side of the river in an attempt to rescue the dog. Riddick growled at their rescue attempt and swam to the west side of the river where Murphy was trying to coax him to shore. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)