Sadie, a black Labrador retriever-mix, was rescued and reunited with her owners after being swept out to sea near Mission Beach in San Diego following an hour-long search.

The single animal involved in the incident was tracked by her owners using an Airtag before lifeguards located her about a half-mile offshore near South Mission Beach, according to officials. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department led the rescue, and the U.S. Coast Guard assisted in the search, which lifeguards said lasted more than an hour, in late November 2025. Sadie was swept out by a rip current near a jetty, which carried her away from shore.

Alexis Barcellos and Brandon Valdez, Sadie’s owners, used the Airtag to narrow the search area, and San Diego lifeguards Garrett Smerdon and Jack Alldredge responded to calls for help. Lifeguards and Coast Guard crews searched the water and nearby structures after Sadie was reported missing, then found her offshore and brought her aboard. Their use of an AirTag to track Sadie’s movements toward the coast helped narrow the area where lifeguards began searching.

“At that point, I kind of just said, ‘Please let us find this dog,'” said Jack Alldredge, a lifeguard with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

Garrett Smerdon, another lifeguard on the scene, said the crew believed Sadie had a chance of surviving in the water. “Knowing that Labs are water dogs and fighters, there was a good chance Sadie was still alive,” he said.

Responders described Sadie as tired when they reached her. Her paws and nails were badly damaged from trying to climb onto the jetty, and she appeared exhausted by the time crews pulled her from the water. Crews then reunited Sadie with Barcellos and Valdez on shore.

Barcellos described the moment when they learned Sadie was alive: “And we kind of just held our breath, and they were like, and the dog is alive.” She added later, “We are just beyond grateful she is home safe with us.” The use of Airtags and other tracking devices not only facilitated the search but also showcased how modern technology can enhance pet safety during outings.

The rescue unfolded after Sadie was swept away by a rip current and carried offshore, where she remained until lifeguards located her. Lifeguards coordinated the response with the U.S. Coast Guard as crews worked from vessels and shore to reach the animal roughly a half-mile from shore. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department conducted the rescue operation, and the U.S. Coast Guard provided assistance in the search phase; both agencies are listed as participants in the response.

One dog and her owners, along with multiple lifeguards and a Coast Guard crew, were involved in a search-and-rescue effort that lasted more than an hour. Sadie’s condition at the scene — described by responders as tired with damaged paws and nails from trying to reach the jetty — did not prevent the reunion with her owners after she was brought ashore. The moment on the beach ended with the dog reunited and the owners relieved.

Background reporting on this incident notes that lifeguards and a Coast Guard boat coordinated to find Sadie, aided by the owners’ use of an AirTag on her collar.

The rescue ended with Sadie back with Alexis Barcellos and Brandon Valdez, closing a search that involved local lifeguards and federal assistance and lasted about an hour from active search to recovery.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.