David Friedman was on his way to work in Independence, Missouri, when he noticed something unusual near an I-70 overpass. A dog was dangling from an electrical wire, its feet barely touching the ground.
“I saw what looked like a dog swinging from the edge of some sort of electrical box,” Friedman told Fox 4KC. “The rope was strangling him. He was trying to move his head, but he couldn’t.”
Realizing the urgency, Friedman quickly called 911 and grabbed a knife to cut the dog free. As soon as he was released, the dog gasped for air but was too weak to walk. Friedman comforted him before taking him to the KC Pet Project.
A microchip revealed the dog’s name—Max—and helped reconnect him with his owner, D-Von Vaughn. Max had been reported missing just two hours earlier.
Vaughn was relieved to have his 16-year-old companion back but was disturbed by the circumstances of his rescue.
It remains unclear how Max ended up in that life-threatening situation. Vaughn is skeptical that his elderly dog could have wandered such a long distance alone.
He suspects foul play and hopes security cameras in the area might provide answers. The electrical wire wrapped around Max’s neck raises serious concerns, and Vaughn plans to report the incident to Animal Control.
Despite the lingering questions, Vaughn is grateful for Friedman’s kindness. Meeting his dog’s rescuer, he expressed his appreciation: “Thank you, David. You stopped what you were doing to save my dog’s life.”
Watch the video below: