Deputy Benjamin Hayden held Eris above chest-deep, murky floodwater as he carried the 4-year-old Labrador away from her home. John and Heidi Edwards had waited more than four hours for help, unwilling to leave behind the dog who stays beside John through dementia and strokes.
Rising water had surrounded the Edwards family’s home in Lamplighter Village, one of the hardest-hit communities in Brevard County. When it drew closer to the door, Heidi called 911 and asked for assistance.
For the Edwardses, getting out meant finding a way to bring Eris, too. She is their emotional support animal and John’s constant companion. “She’s just my buddy. She doesn’t leave my side,” John said.
Hayden, an Orange County deputy, was among the first responders who answered the call. He waded through the water, lifted Eris and helped guide the family out. John and Heidi were assisted into a boat, and all three eventually reached dry ground together.
The rescue echoed another publicly recognized effort by Hayden. In 2022, he drew attention after saving a dog stranded following Hurricane Ian. Officials said he was unavailable for an interview at the time of the Brevard County rescue.
Recovery remains unsettled in Lamplighter Village
The Edwards family’s evacuation ended safely, but the wider emergency did not end at the water’s edge. Lamplighter Village residents lost vehicles, personal belongings and portions of their homes. Local officials had not released an estimate of the community’s total financial or structural damage, and a timeline for displaced residents to fully return and begin repairs had not been established.
Across Brevard County, recovery work continued as water receded. An emergency shelter opened in Cocoa for displaced residents, while Brevard County Emergency Management asked people to submit property-damage information to help assess community needs. Residents could also request cleanup assistance through a volunteer portal, though help depended on availability, according to a local flood-assistance update.
Neighbors also stepped into the gaps. Lamplighter Village resident Mona James delivered meals and supplies to people who remained unable to leave. Her work offered a practical form of care while questions about drainage, re-entry and damage remained unresolved.
Why an animal evacuation plan matters
The Edwardses’ circumstances were individual, but their ordeal underscores a broader planning problem for households with animals. Florida disaster guidance advises residents to make evacuation plans in advance for both pets and service animals and, when possible, take them along when leaving home.
Shelter access is an important part of that preparation. Florida officials caution that most public emergency shelters do not permit pets, although they do permit service animals. Pet-friendly shelters may be available, but residents should identify them ahead of time and consider alternatives if they cannot reach one. Because shelter rules distinguish between pets and service animals, people traveling with an emotional support animal should confirm the applicable policy before an emergency whenever possible.
Planning ahead can also reduce the chance that residents will have to enter moving or contaminated water themselves. Official flood-safety guidance warns against walking through floodwater because even shallow water can move quickly and become dangerous. Fallen electrical lines create another hazard because electricity can travel through water.
In Lamplighter Village, those risks were taken on by trained responders arriving after a long wait. Hayden’s actions kept the Edwardses from facing the evacuation without Eris, while neighbors such as James helped people enduring the aftermath.
The family reached dry ground together, even as the future of their community remained uncertain. “We’re hanging on to these little moments. That’s all we have,” Heidi said. For John, Heidi and Eris, one of those moments was simply arriving with no one left behind.
Have you ever adopted a dog with a story like this? Share it in the comments.
By Jake Patterson — Freelance feature writer and former animal-shelter volunteer focused on rescue, adoption, and second-chance dog stories.
