LUSBY, Md. — A 13-year-old dog is recovering after being rescued from a muddy marsh in Calvert County, following a coordinated response involving a local resident, animal control officers, and firefighters.
The incident was reported around 12:01 p.m. on April 7, 2026, in the White Sands area off Willow Road in Lusby. A caller found an exhausted dog behind her home that had been stuck neck-deep in mud.
The caller was able to free the dog prior to responders arriving but reported the animal was in poor condition, described as cold, shivering, and unable to stand. The dog was believed to be an older gray pit bull mix, and no injuries to the caller were reported.
Animal Control Officers Limerick and Bell-Bussler responded to the scene, along with personnel from the St. Leonard Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, who assisted in safely bringing the dog out of the wooded area to stable ground.
The dog, later identified as Bella, was transported to the Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter, where she was treated for hypothermia and closely monitored by veterinary staff. During her recovery, a shelter volunteer remained by her side to provide comfort.
Officials later located Bella’s owners, and she has since been reunited with them. She continues to receive veterinary care at home and is expected to make a full recovery.
Animal shelter officials credited the quick-thinking resident and the coordinated emergency response for saving the dog’s life.
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