Molly the dog poses with her family and members of the Dallas Fire Urban Search and Rescue Team. (credit: Dallas Fire Rescue)
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - I don’ t really know why fire departments have been associated with rescuing cats from trees, but they are. I guess that type of potential experience came in handy for a few members of Dallas Fire Rescue, during the first week of March.
This call didn’t concern a cat up a tree, rather a dog, down a hole.
Firefighters were called to a house in North Dallas. The problem? A “trapped pet”. That “pet” was a dog named Molly.
Molly’s owners called firefighters saying they could hear the dog barking from somewhere underneath their in-ground swimming pool.
When firefighters arrived they found where they thought Molly had dug underground, but her barking was coming from an area about 15 feet from that spot. Molly was trapped beneath the concrete decking around the pool.
The department is called Dallas Fire ‘Rescue’, but this rescue was going to be different. Firefighters at the scene called for “backup”, in a sense – the Urban Search and Rescue Team (US&R).
A member of the Dallas Fire Urban Search and Rescue Team drills a hole into concrete, in search of Molly the dog. (credit: Dallas Fire Rescue)
Fully equipped with heavy equipment and some of the latest technology, the US&R Team arrived and dropped a camera down the hole Molly crawled in, but it couldn’t get the 15 feet necessary to see her.
Undeterred, the team then used a listening device to pinpoint the area of Molly’s barking. Firefighters then grabbed some shovels and starting digging.
Once they cleared an area of concrete foundation, a hole was drilled through for the camera. His time, the search camera had a clear picture of Molly!
Knowing Molly’s exact location was more than half the battle. One last hole was drilled through the concrete and the little dog was freed!
When asked to comment on the importance of the US&R Team, Battalion Chief Chuck Hampton said proudly, “With out their tools and expertise there is no way this rescue could have been accomplished without extensive property damage and most importantly, injury to the dog!”
The story ends with a very dirty, but uninjured dog and members of Dallas Fire Rescue demonstrating their commitment to help both man and beast.
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6 Comments
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This just melted my heart!!! I know someone will complain that it was a waste of taxpayer money but I don’t care!! I so much better then giving the key to Michael Vick!!! Yeah to DFD!!!!!!!
March 9, 2011 at 4:09 pm
This is great! DFD caring for the most vulnerable in Dallas. Thank you for your service!
March 9, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Firefighters save lives regardless of how many legs a victim may have. Many. many thanks and congrats on a job WELL DONE!!
March 9, 2011 at 4:18 pm
Did it ruin the pool?
March 9, 2011 at 6:05 pm
My husband is a firefighter and until you need them, you dont think about how dangerous all aspects of their job is. Just a fender bender on the highway puts them at great risk. An inattentive driver passing by will strike and injure/kill many firefighters. Next time you see them in the grocery store or out and about, say thanks. They do appreciate it!
March 10, 2011 at 10:57 am