YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - There was a heroic rescue at Mill Creek MetroParks as a police officer jumped into action to rescue a service dog that fell from a trail nearly 30 feet into a creek.

When you meet 10-year-old Tristan Zack of Niles and his dog Zena or 'Z,' as he calls her, it's clear they have an unbreakable bond.

But that bond was nearly broken when Zena and the family's two other dogs went on a leisurely walk in Mill Creek MetroParks with Tristan and his mother Friday evening.

Zena fell approximately 28 feet from Artists' Trail, near Pioneer Pavillion, into the rapidly rushing water, and that's when the dramatic rescue effort began.

Sarah Zack, Tristan's mother, tells 21 News, "I freaked out because I had Tristan and two other dogs, and Zena went over the edge. It was too steep for me to get down to her.  I was watching to make sure Tristan didn't go over the edge because he kept yelling down at her because he couldn't get to her."

Mill Creek MetroParksPark Police point out a broken tree that's halfway in the water and say that's where Zena went over when one of the family's other dogs nudged her or ran into her.  

Sergeant Rob Vukovich, who was the supervisor on duty for Mill Creek MetroParks Police, said, "It was a service dog for a special needs child, so myself and two other officers responded.  At that time, we saw a large Labrador type dog had fallen off the cliff right here and was kind of isolated on a rocky ledge near the water.  The water was a lot deeper on Friday because of the recent amount of heavy rains we've had."

Patrol Officer Alex Wharry was concerned, saying, "You could tell Tristan was very nervous.  He didn't want to lose his best friend, and I understand why.  That dog's important, especially to a young man that needs it.  It's not just a pet, but a pet with a purpose."

When Officer Brent Wright arrived on the scene, he took off his gun belt and jumped right into the water in his uniform and picked up the 90-pound pooch, even after being swept off his feet by the current.  

The family captured the rescue with cell phone photos.

"There was no question in my mind that I was getting in the water.  At that point the dog was down there, it wasn't going to get out on its own, and I figured the fastest and safest way to get the dog out was to go in the water," Officer Wright said.

But it was no easy task with the rushing water and a frightened dog, "The dog was an easy 90 pounds, and the hill being how steep it was, there was no way that we were going to safely get the dog up the hill by one person. So it was awesome teamwork," Officer Wright tells 21 News.

As one officer would make his way about five feet up the steep hill, another officer would hand the dog to him, working almost like they were making their way up a ladder until they made it to safety.
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In no time, Zena was back in the arms of Tristan, giving the 10-year-old boy a reason to smile again.

Sergeant Vukovich said they wouldn't have it any other way. "The situation was very complex. I mean, that's the best part of this job. Being able to see a need and meet that need in any way.  As I said, I know how much that dog meant to that family, so we just wanted to do our best to return it safely to that family."

Sarah Zack says Zena was not hurt at all and her family couldn't be more grateful to Mill Creek MetroParks Police.

"They didn't wait for fire or anything like that they just went right down and got her, risked their own safety and that's just awesome.  I'm just eternally grateful.  My son has down syndrome, and this is his dog that takes care of him, goes everywhere with him.  His service dog," Zack said.