by Babylon, New York — In the middle of near whiteout conditions during a historic blizzard, a Long Island snowplow driver turned his routine shift into a life-saving mission for two frightened dogs.
Kenny McGowan, a Department of Public Works employee for the Town of Babylon, was plowing roads Monday when he noticed movement along Sunrise Highway.
“I looked in my mirror, and I saw a dog. I’m like that’s a dog running,” McGowan said.
The two Lab mixes — later identified as Harper and Heidi — were running along the busy highway as snow whipped across the pavement.
Using a Snowplow as a Shield
McGowan immediately activated his truck’s sirens and followed behind the dogs to prevent vehicles from hitting them.
“Being an animal lover, being a father, I went right into protection mode,” he said.
He maneuvered his plow sideways across the highway, using the large vehicle as a protective barrier while he worked to safely corral the pups.
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The dogs eventually ran into the highway median, where snow had piled up to nearly three feet. According to McGowan, they buried themselves in the snow and huddled together for warmth.
“One dog went laid on here, and the other dog went on top of him,” he recalled. “I knew right away they were family members.”
Brought to Safety and Reunited
With the help of passing Good Samaritans, McGowan was able to pick up the collarless dogs and place them inside his snowplow truck. He transported them to the Babylon Animal Shelter.
Shelter staff scanned the dogs for microchips and were able to identify their owners. According to reports, Harper and Heidi were reunited with their family in less than 24 hours.
“If nobody would have found them, they could have froze,” a shelter attendant said.
The Town of Babylon, New York later shared a photo of the sisters heading home.
It remains unclear how the dogs escaped during the height of the storm, but thanks to quick thinking and compassion, their blizzard ordeal had a happy ending.
Have you ever witnessed an act of kindness during extreme weather? Share your story in the comments below.
