Firefighters Rescue Blind, Deaf Dog Wedged in Ojai Storm Drain

Firefighters rescued an elderly, deaf, almost blind and toothless dog named Giorgio who had been lost for two days and was found Tuesday wedged in a storm drain near the home of an Ojai couple who had taken in the homeless animal last week.

Accompanied by a squadron of neighbors, three firefighters wielded picks and shovels to free Giorgio from his subterranean snare. The small poodle mix--whose paws, head and stomach were rubbed almost raw during the ordeal--was recuperating at the office of an Ojai vet Tuesday night.

“The Fire Department are the heroes,” said Elisabeth Arvin. “They said: ‘It is a life and that’s what we’re here for, to save lives.’ ”

It’s the second canine life Ojai firefighters are credited with saving this year. In April, a firefighter was lowered into a 30-foot well to retrieve a German shepherd that had plunged into the darkness.

“It’s been a busy summer for dogs and pipes,” said Capt. Norman Plott of the Ventura County Fire Department.

In the first instance, another dog alerted humans to the canine’s plight.

That happened this time too, when Arvin’s half a dozen dogs led her husband, Louis, to a small drain opening in their orange grove on Rancho Drive about 7:30 a.m.

Louis Arvin could hear whimpering emanating from the uncovered opening, but was unable to see the dog, his wife said.

After determining that the muffled sounds were likely caused by Giorgio--who had disappeared Sunday night from their home--the couple, after failing to pry the pooch from the pipe, called firefighters.

Somehow, Giorgio had squirmed about eight feet through a dogleg in the small pipe, and unable to turn around, found himself stuck. Firefighters removed about four feet of pipe and a similar amount of soil before pulling Giorgio out by his paws, Plott said.

Arvin and her husband--members of the Humane League, which rescues unwanted animals--will keep Giorgio if no other home can be found for the aged animal. Anyone wishing to adopt the dog may call Arvin at 646-2877.