Her Australian paddle dog lived up its name
The rain kept falling, and waters kept rising.
Joann Piazza knew things were getting bad.
She packed up a few essentials and put several days worth of bird food and drinking water in the cage that holds her pet cockatiel, Fred.
Then, she called emergency workers and asked for help, because her Morrison Court neighborhood had become a flood zone.
``I told them my dog and I need to be picked up," she said. ``Then I turned to Jake, [her Australian paddle dog] and said, `I hope you know how to do the doggie paddle, cuz I can't carry you.' "
Jake, she said, would have made his forebear s proud.
``He did it. The water was really cold, but he got in there and paddled to his rescue," she said.
Late last week, Piazza was back home, with both of her pets.
In her driveway, a man from an insurance company was assessing the damage to her 2000 silver Plymouth Neon.
Since the flood, Piazza has had trouble starting it. In the interior, there's still plenty of evidence of the flood.
With Jake tagging along, she pointed out the dried sludge on the floor mats and the flood water in her cup holders, then paused.
``I'm just so glad my animals are safe," she said.
CHRISTINE McCONVILLE 