A dog was rescued after being struck by a boat propeller on the Santa Fe River in North Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The incident occurred on Sunday, August 31, near Sandy Point in a wilderness area of Suwannee County.
The dog, named Booey and owned by Steve Johnson—known locally as “Cowboy Stevie D” from WQHL 98.1—was injured when the recreational boat’s propeller hit him while the vessel was idling. Johnson described the moment: “We were having a wonderful day on the water. We were idling, barely moving, when Rosaly and I heard a loud yelp. I don’t know who suffered more from the shock, Booey or me.”
FWC Officers Cody Clark and Richard Covington responded after being flagged down by two distressed boaters seeking help for Booey. According to the FWC release: “Officers Cody Clark and Richard Covington were patrolling the Santa Fe River near Sandy Point when they were flagged down by two distressed boaters requesting assistance for their dog named Booey, which had been struck by a boat propeller.”
Officer Clark administered first aid at the scene: “Officer Clark … applied a tourniquet to Booey’s lacerated leg (and) contacted a nearby emergency veterinary clinic, providing details about the dog’s injuries and alerting them that the couple was on the way.” The FWC reported that Booey sustained three deep lacerations and a hairline fracture but remained calm during treatment.
Veterinary staff confirmed that Officer Clark’s actions were crucial to Booey’s survival. The FWC stated: “A veterinarian confirmed the tourniquet applied by Clark played a critical role in the dog’s survival.”
Booey is expected to make a full recovery. Maj. Scott Lee of FWC’s North Central Region commended his officers: “Officers Clark and Covington were in the right place at the right time and used their skills and training to help bring a happy ending to what could have been a heartbreaking day on the water,” he said.
The accident took place in Branford, Suwannee County, approximately 85 miles west of Jacksonville.
