Oil’s well that ends well for trapped dog
Fire crews are trained for human rescues. Animal rescues require some improvising.
So when the Alpine Fire Protection District in eastern San Diego County got a desperate call about a dog wedged in a narrow crack in a large boulder, some innovation was necessary.
The dog was apparently walking on the top of the boulder Tuesday and fell into the crevasse, landing 15 feet down. It was wedged so tightly that it could not move.
First, firefighters tried using an extraction tool to pry the boulder apart, but the rock was too strong and the crevasse was too tight. Then air bags were deployed to create a space for the dog to escape. Again, failure.
Finally, the dog was doused in vegetable oil and its rear legs lassoed. Slowly, the slippery animal was pulled to the top, howling a bit, but unharmed. The dog’s owner was elated.
The owner has several dogs and had yet to name this one. The firefighters have a suggestion: Rocky.
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