A man happened to be in the right place at the right time to save a dog caught in an electrical cord near a highway overpass, preventing a tragic outcome.
David Fredman was on his way to work in Independence, Missouri, when he spotted the distressed dog near the I-70 bridge.
“I saw what looked like a dog dangling from the edge of an electrical box,” Fredman told Fox4 KC. “He was clearly being strangled by the cord. His feet were barely touching the ground, and he was desperately trying to move his head from side to side but couldn’t.”
Acting quickly, Fredman called 911 and used a knife to free the dog. As soon as the cord was cut, the dog gasped for air. Unable to walk, he was gently calmed before being taken to KC Pet Project for care.
The dog, named Max, was microchipped, and his owner, Dee Vaughn, had been searching for him. Just two hours after reporting Max missing, Vaughn was relieved to hear his beloved 16-year-old pet had been found—but devastated to learn what had happened.
How Max ended up in this dangerous situation remains a mystery. Was it a terrible accident, or did someone intentionally try to harm him? Vaughn doubts that his aging dog could have wandered a full mile to where he was found. He hopes security footage may reveal the truth. The way the electrical cord was wrapped around Max’s neck raises serious concerns. Vaughn reported the incident to the police and plans to follow up with animal control.
Despite the uncertainty, Vaughn is simply grateful that Max is safe—thanks to Fredman’s quick thinking and bravery.
When the two finally met in person, Vaughn expressed his heartfelt gratitude: “Thank you, David, very much. You stopped what you were doing to turn back and save my dog’s life.”
