GROSSE POINTE SHORES, Mich. – A fishing trip turned into a rescue mission for an off-duty Grosse Pointe Shores police sergeant.
While out on Lake St. Clair, he found an exhausted yellow lab paddling in the middle of the lake.
Ron Coste was on his boat with his dog Jasmine and his girlfriend's daughters when he saw something unusual in the water.
"He'd been swimming for a while and he was pretty tired," Coste said.
Trying not to frighten the older yellow lab, Coste didn't turn on the motor but started the electric engine to get closer.
"He was determined to get to the boat and I was determined to get to him," Coste said.
The off-duty Grosse Pointe Shores officer was almost a mile away from the boat launch on Nine Mile Road when he spotted the dog.
Coste said at that point he hadn't seen another boat for more than half an hour.
"I grabbed his collar and he was so tired," Coste said. "He just slid right out on his side."
His girlfriend's daughter called 911, and ironically the dog's owner was talking to dispatch at the same time.
"Just right place, right time," Coste said.
Herb's owner met up with Coste on Lake St. Clair and they maneuvered the two boats side by side, so the dog could be reunited with his family.
"The dog knew he wanted to go back to his boat because he saw his owner," Coste said.
The owner told Ron his dog must have leapt into the water from the back of the boat.
Herb is safe and sound back at home.
"I think they were a little stunned, but they were gracious the dog was OK and back home," Coste said.