PITTSBURG — Heroes never know when the call to action may come, but for Moe, a 9-year-old Golden Retriever, he knew just what to do when an elderly man was stuck in the cold Delta waters, early Wednesday morning: retrieve.

Moe and his owner, John Newman, live alongside a channel carved into the Pittsburg Marina, where their backyard descends down to docks that harbor the jet ski and boat that Newman and Moe will often take out to explore the Delta.

At just seven weeks, Moe was jumping off the docks and doggie-paddling to stay afloat as Newman rushed to save the pup. It was his first foray into the water and now he retrieves tennis balls and even people when they get lost in the water.

At around 6 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Moe started barking excitedly to awaken Newman to what Moe was hearing.

“I heard a human voice and I get my flashlight because it was still dark and I see (someone) over there in the water, saying ‘I’m stuck, I need help,'” Newman said.

An elderly man was beside the neighboring docks and was calling for help to get out of the water. Newman and Moe came over to investigate and Newman picked the man out of the water, bringing him up a neighbor’s gangplank to their home where they called for the man to get medical attention.

“He was soaking wet and probably had hypothermia. He was immobile,” Newman said.

The man told Newman that he had fallen off the docks, into the water and couldn’t get back up. Temperatures were in the lower 40s and the fog laid low like a thick blanket, early Wednesday morning. Pittsburg Police wrote on Facebook that the man fallen into the water while taking his morning walk.

The man is safe and has recovered, thanks to the local water rescue team. Moe is excited for all the attention and will be honored for his service by Pittsburg police with treats and a lot of pets.

“Moe is a rock star. He’s a real champion,” Newman said as Moe searched around the deck after hearing the word “treats.”