Roanoke County Firefighters Rescue Dog from Drain Pipe

A Roanoke County EMS technician works to free "Abby" from the pipe.
A Roanoke County EMS technician works to free “Abby” from the pipe.

For the second time in nine days, Roanoke County firefighters have rescued a dog. About 6:30 this morning the Roanoke County Emergency Communications Center received a call from a homeowner in the 2900 block of Forest Acre Court saying there was a dog trapped in a drain pipe that empties out onto their property.

When crews arrived they found a large German Shepherd Mix dog (at least 50 or more pounds)  stuck approximately 20 feet up from the opening where the pipe drains out. The entire drain pipe, except for the opening, is several feet underground and slanted down-hill from the road. Firefighters figured the dog likely entered the opening of the pipe to follow (or chase) an animal. When she tried to turn around and go back, she likely got stuck.

The Heavy Technical Rescue (HTR) team from the County’s Clearbrook Fire & Rescue Station was called in to assist with the extrication of Abby the dog. After realizing they could not free her by climbing to her and helping her out, they began to clear away the earth around the pipe—about a four by six foot section— several feet up from where she was stuck.

Once they reached the pipe and cleaned off a large section, they used a concrete saw to cut a two-foot wide by five foot  long section out of the concrete pipe. After clearing the cut section away, they worked to free the dog.

A clearly relieved Abby drank several bottles of water after being extricated from her 2 day confinement.
A clearly relieved Abby drank several bottles of water after being extricated from her 2 day confinement.

Abby was muddy and dehydrated, but happy to be free. Once freed, she was wrapped in a blanket and given food and water. She reportedly lapped up a great deal of water before being transported by the PD animal control officer to a local vet with her owner following behind.

The dog’s owner said that Abby had been missing since Tuesday night and they had not been able to find her. The cut-out section of concrete was replaced and secured in place by VDOT workers who had been called to the scene earlier. The dirt and yard will be replaced.

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