Nanaimo firefighters were able to rescue a dog that could have drowned in a drain pipe if it hadn鈥檛 gotten help.
Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews were called to Labieux Road and Oriole Drive just before 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 1, after a beagle had gotten into a 40-centimetre pipe.
鈥淚t was a horizontal sewer system that the dog had entered and because the dog couldn鈥檛 turn around, the dog kept going forward,鈥� said David Dales, Nanaimo Fire Rescue assistant chief. 鈥淭he dog was yelping and quite scared.鈥�
Firefighters started popping open manhole covers and could tell they were getting closer to the pooch. Eventually they found a manhole close enough that using a flashlight, they could see the dog.
鈥淭he dog was at a real risk for drowning because the dog was unable to put their paws on anything. It was just kind of swimming in one static spot,鈥� Dales said.
The crew taped a blanket onto the end of a 150-foot fire hose, said Dales 鈥� 鈥淚鈥檒l use their term: they basically made a big Q-tip鈥� 鈥� and inserted into the pipe. With something to claw onto, the dog allowed itself to be pulled backward out of the pipe to safety.
鈥淭here was a couple dog lovers on the fire engine and they used their creativity,鈥� Dales said. 鈥淭hey were pretty determined to help and everything worked out perfectly.鈥�
The assistant chief said the pet owners had been in a 鈥渧ery panicked state鈥� when firefighters arrived.
鈥淲e were able to deliver Dobby back to them safe and sound鈥︹�� he said. 鈥淥ur firefighters were glad to be of assistance.鈥�
A social media post from Nanaimo Fire Rescue noted that the City of Nanaimo鈥檚 public works staff supported the rescue effort following the 鈥測elp for help.鈥�
Today our Firefighters responded to a 鈥測elp for help鈥� from a 12 year old pup named Dobby. Dobby was trapped inside a drainage system with a potential of drowning. Our Firefighters supported by public works staff, quickly located the pup and rescued him.
鈥� Nanaimo Fire Rescue (@NanaimoFire)
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