Rescue of Dog

Re “Firefighters Rescue Dog From Well,” Feb. 18:

The L.A. County Department of Animal Care and Control does its job quietly and efficiently, perhaps a little too much so for those who read about the rescue of a dog trapped in a well in Malibu. While our department certainly appreciates the support and sophisticated equipment that other agencies occasionally provide us to perform difficult or daring rescues, in the end it comes down to animal control officers like Tim March, who descended a fire ladder to rescue a large Newfoundland dog trapped at the bottom of a well--a crucial detail not reported in The Times’ story.

Virtually every day, our officers crawl, climb and search for missing or trapped animals in storm drains, up trees, under bushes and down at the bottom of rugged canyons. It’s probably easy to overlook their efforts in the glitz and glare of sophisticated rescue equipment. But the truth is that it is the dedication of our largely unsung officers that makes the difference for a lot of animals and provides the real meaning and impact of our department’s motto: Duty With Compassion.

FRANK R. ANDREWS, Director

Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control