Puppies saved after seven hour rescue operation
A combined community effort led to a happy ending and the rescue of two pups.
TWO puppies that were stuck underground in a drainpipe for more than 12 hours have been rescued. Rescue workers had to dig a 2 metre (6 foot) hole in the ground to free the three-week-old puppies that had been stuck in the pipe since 6.30pm on Wednesday evening on a premises in Avocado Grove in Avoca Hills.
The initial part of the operation was hard work as rescuers took turns in digging a hole to get to the frightened duo. A TLB digger had to be called in eventually to assist in the rescue effort.
Owner of the pooches, Welcome Zaca, said he was so happy that the pups’ nightmarish ordeal was over.
“I’m so happy. I couldn’t sleep last night, all I could hear were the pups crying, and I was crying all night, I felt so bad. My heart is glad, and the mother of the puppies, Snoopy, is so happy,” Zaca said.
SPCA inspector, Alfred Mntungwa, hailed the rescue operation a resounding success.
“It was a fantastic effort by everyone. We were determined to save them. Besides being a little dehydrated, they seem healthy and happy to be out of the drainpipe,” he said.
Mntungwa hailed all those involved in the operation as true heroes.
Tyron Powell of Marshall Security, whose company organised the TLB and assisted in the rescue, said that getting to the trapped duo was hard work.
“The ground was very hard, which made digging almost impossible. The guys used spades for the most part but the TLB was a major help. It feels really awesome to have such a happy ending,” Powell said.
