Woman watches tiny black dog swim for hour before rescue arrives.

That deserves a round of applause. A spontaneous drive turned into tears of joy thanks to a Good Samaritan's quick thinking and the dramatic rescue of a tiny black dog who stood seconds away from being lost at sea. Barbara Saffing, 36, watched in shock as a curly-haired pup threw itself into the choppy waters of the San Francisco Bay on July 16. She could only stand there helplessly while the animal treaded water for roughly an hour before anyone could reach it.

Saffing is an animal lover from Menlo Park who was heading to her own birthday party when she made a last-minute stop at the bay. That is when she saw a dog running toward the water, but she did not think it would actually jump in. She looked around for other people or owners but saw none. It was just her and her car right behind the animal.

With no time to waste, Saffing parked her vehicle and frantically tried to stop the pup from entering deeper waters. By now she had lost track of where the dog went. She thought maybe it was hiding in a nearby bush or something. Next thing she knows, she is looking toward the long pier and sees the dog standing at the very end. She was like 'Oh my God.' Right as she got closer, the dog turned around looked at her and then jumped back down into the rocky area near the water. Saffing thought maybe the owner was down there fishing or something else entirely.

Dramatic drone footage captured the dog swimming aimlessly around while seagulls stalked overhead. The pooch had gone missing on July 4 after being frightened by fireworks, but this incident happened later in the month. As she got all the way towards the end of the pier, the dog was literally entering the water. Then it just turned around looked at her and then swam back toward the ocean to keep moving away. Saffing was standing there crying while she frantically called 911 and waited helplessly for rescue crews to arrive.

She recalled sitting there weeping and praying that Lord save this dog because it was already so far out there it looked like a dot now. What unfolded next felt straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster. First responders with the Menlo Park Fire Protection District arrived armed with binoculars, GPS trackers and a drone. They quickly dispatched a boat to try and track the paddling pup down. The rescue boat then suddenly appeared in view before authorities scooped the dog up in one swift move.

Saffing said she just could not believe what she was seeing. And the best part came when they brought the dog back wrapped in one of the fireman's jackets. It was shivering but safe now and she felt so relieved. She called it a birthday she will always remember. Despite that harrowing ordeal, the bewildered animal only needed treatment for some minor facial lacerations. Thanks to her microchip, the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA quickly identified the dog as an 8-year-old female Terrier Mix named Prieta.

Prietas owner Mary Juarez had been desperately searching for her beloved pooch ever since she vanished on July 4 after being spooked by fireworks. She said she had almost given up hope after looking for her baby for nearly two weeks. Her heart started beating so hard when she received the call from the SPCA team that told them they found Prieta safe and sound. The owner was finally reunited with her pet after what looked like a lost cause situation turned into a miracle rescue operation right in front of witnesses eyes.

Mary Juarez suffered deep agony over the fate of her dog, Prieta. She visited the SPCA in San Mateo twice. She also went to the Palo Alto animal shelter searching for her pet. Fireworks on July 4 frightened and vanished the pooch. Mary felt very depressed without knowing where she was. Hope faded as days passed by. She would never thank everyone enough for bringing Prieta home.

Reunion happened a few days later with the firemen involved in that dramatic rescue. Firefighter Tyler scooped Prieta up from the bay using one perfectly-timed move. Photos of this sweet moment appeared on the Menlo Park Fire Protection District Facebook page. The owner was emotional while expressing gratitude to all rescuers. They helped bring her beloved dog home after an especially difficult time.

Mary shared she recently lost several close family members. Devastation hit hard when she thought she lost Prieta too. Those involved with the rescue were happy to see them reunited again. They were grateful for some time to connect under much better conditions. A happy ending existed for everyone involved in this story.