Miss Cleo, a 2-year-old Bernese mountain dog, is back home safe after a harrowing ordeal that saw her rescued from the frigid waters off Marblehead’s coast by quick-thinking first responders on March 19.
Miss Cleo shares her cozy home on Glendale Road with her canine sibling, a 10-year-old Bernese mountain dog named Bella, owner Julianne Sullivan said. Sullivan said the pair is inseparable, often found cuddling, always together on their favorite plush bed.
But that’s where the similarities end. While Bella is a typical Bernese — friendly, outgoing — Miss Cleo is her more anxious counterpart, often barking at strangers before running the other way.
“She is so cute and so affectionate, and her facial expressions are so expressive,” Sullivan said of Miss Cleo. “I just can’t stand that other people don’t get to see that because all they see is anxious Miss Cleo, instead of loving, relaxed, cuddling Miss Cleo.”
Despite being a breed known for being extremely gregarious and strong swimmers, Miss Cleo had never taken to the water.
“I take her down to the beach, and she won’t even put her toes in,” Sullivan said with a laugh.
So, it came as a shock when Miss Cleo escaped through a gate that blew open in her yard on the morning of March 19 and ran nearly a half-mile to the rocky shore off Coolidge Road. Sullivan said she had secured the gate with rope before leaving for errands, but she believes the rope wasn’t pulled tight enough, leaving a small gap.
“She kind of knows how to bump it,” Sullivan said.
Miss Cleo squeezed through the opening around and made a break for it.
The pup was spotted by a neighbor and the family’s dog walker, who called Sullivan to alert her. Miss Cleo had gotten loose before but usually just wandered a couple doors down to visit her pals, Salty and Rudder, or across the street to see her friend, Charlie. Sullivan said she doesn’t go far after these quick visits.
This time was different. Sullivan believes the commotion of concerned neighbors trying to catch the stranger-skittish dog may have spooked Miss Cleo, sending her fleeing toward the harbor. Marblehead Animal Control Officer Betsy Cruger arrived on scene and saw the dog jump or fall into the roughly 40-degree water.
She immediately called Harbormaster Mark Souza for help.
“Being a dog owner, it’s stressful,” said Souza, who owns a beagle, Storm, and two mutts, Willis and Louis. “I was super concerned for the pet’s well being. When we got to the dog, she’d been in there for about 30 minutes.”
Souza, along with Deputy Harbormaster Craig Smith and Assistant Harbormaster Jarrett Russo, raced to Miss Cleo’s location about 200 to 300 yards offshore, battling choppy conditions and strong winds.
As the harbormasters approached, Miss Cleo initially seemed frightened.
“Do you want a cookie or a treat?” one of the crew members called out.
The dog immediately swam over to the boat upon hearing those magic words.
They pulled her to safety.
Sullivan brought the first responders gifts and a hearty thanks the next day for saving her beloved pup. She said the normally reserved Miss Cleo perked up immediately upon their reunion at the dock, wagging her tail and crying happy tears.
“Those guys are heroes. They saved her life,” Sullivan said, her voice choked with emotion. “I had to get them something. I couldn’t thank them enough by just words.”
Sullivan said she has double-wrapped the gate latch.
“It was crazy how many people were invested in this rescue,” Sullivan said of the concerned citizens and first responders. “They were so helpful. I’m so grateful they were willing to drop everything and go save her.”
