Firefighters rescue puppy 'too scared' to swim
Dec 17, 2012 19:16:07 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 17, 2012 19:16:07 GMT -5
Firefighters rescue puppy 'too scared' to swim back to owner
Monday, December 17, 2012
FIREFIGHTERS from Whitstable rescued a puppy ‘too scared’ to swim back to her owner from an island after taking dip in a dyke earlier today.
Primrose, a 10-month-old English Bull Terrier and Labrador cross breed, was being walked with three other dogs by owner Pip Grey-Smith when the drama began on farmland near Brookesend Hill in Birchington shortly after 6.30am.
Firefighters used a special mud rescue path to retrieve puppy Primrose from the island
Firefighters used a special mud rescue path to retrieve puppy Primrose from the island
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The dog jumped into the water after one of the other hounds in the group and swam across to a small island. But the pup was simply too afraid to jump back in and swim back to the bank.
Ms Grey-Smith spent more than two hours trying to entice Primrose across the eight-foot stretch of water before deciding to call Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) to help retrieve her.
KFRS station manager Garry Lovejoy was sent to the scene to assess the situation and decide what action to take.
He said: “The puppy wasn’t in any immediate danger but her owner had been there since very early and had tried calling various people for help so I was concerned that she – or maybe others – might endanger themselves trying to rescue the dog, at which point we called in the water safety unit from Whitstable."
The crew arrived and they were given the chance to train with a specialist mud rescue path, which they used to span the dyke and bring Primrose back to safety and her owner.
“It only took us half an hour and the dog was so relieved to be getting back to its owner that it practically dragged our crew member across,” said Whitstable watch manager Dick Judge.
“While this was an unusual rescue, it’s always a good opportunity for us to train with the equipment.
“It’s also a reminder to people to keep themselves and their pets away from the water at this time of the year as the freezing temperatures can be extremely dangerous if you do take an unexpected dip.”
Ms Grey-Smith said: “They were lovely chaps and did a great job, Primrose is tired out but otherwise fine and I’m hoping this might put her off the water in future.”
Pictures at link:
www.thisiskent.co.uk/Firefighters-rescue-puppy-scared-swim-owner/story-17610208-detail/story.html
