A black labrador who fell into a three metre deep sewer has been rescued by the RSPCA and Hampshire Fire & Rescue’s Animal Rescue team.
Having popped out for 45 minutes, Ollie’s owners panicked when there was no sign of their beloved pet on their return. Something just didn’t smell right. But it wasn’t long before they discovered Ollie – who had fallen three metres down into a sewer in their back garden in Holbury.
Hampshire Fire & Rescue’s Animal Rescue team, with their expert Jim Green, were first on the scene and they called the RSPCA for assistance.
Rescuers had to stop any households in the neighbourhood flushing their toilets to help keep Ollie safe, and enable his rescue to take place.
RSPCA inspector Graham Hammond said: “Ollie had got into a wee bit of trouble when he accidentally broke through a faulty sewer cover while bounding round the back garden of his owners’ home.
“I was really concerned that he could have seriously injured himself. It was a long drop and obviously extremely nasty down there. To protect Ollie and to facilitate his rescue, the first priority was to stop any neighbours from flushing their loos!
“We also needed to keep Ollie as calm as possible, as even dogs with the friendliest of temperaments can change when they’re scared and stressed. A multi handled ground sheet was put under his belly to lift him and throughout, he remained friendly and easy to handle. This resulted in a straightforward and easy rescue, though a bit smelly!
“Once Ollie was brought to the surface, I gave him a check over, and luckily he was uninjured though very unsavoury. He seemed completely unfazed by his ordeal – although I’m sure he’ll be pooped out later!
“It was a very happy ending but could have been a very different story. I’d like to thank Hampshire Fire & Rescue for their help and expertise. Jim Green ‘wrote the book’ on animal rescues and Ollie was in very safe hands.”
The incident took place on Monday 3 October.
