Community Bands Together To Save Elderly Dog From Stubborn Sinkhole

Jun 30, 2022, 6:55 PM

man driving construction equipment to rescue dog from sinkhole

Facebook | Estherville Police Department

An entire community in Iowa assisted police after a senior dog broke free from its home and fell into a sinkhole.

Few things in life are more inspiring than stories about regular people finding a heroic spirit within themselves and saving the lives of those in need.

Sometimes, this is something these individuals dedicate their lives to after a life-changing experience. However, we'll find that just as often, these affirming stories are simply the result of people being in the right place at the right time. And sometimes, that right place can even be hundreds of miles away.

But in one very special case, neighbors and first responders alike put themselves in that right place after word spread that a dog needed some serious help.

On June 27, police in Estherville, Iowa received a call from a family explaining that their elderly bulldog named Tupelo had gone missing.

police officers looking down sinkhole after discovering trapped dog

Facebook | Estherville Police Department

As People reported, however, the owners knew the dog hadn't gotten far as they could hear him barking from a ravine behind one of their neighbors' homes.

Before long, police searched the area and discovered Tupelo in a cement drainage tile. But as they wrote on Facebook, the problem was that this tile had created a sinkhole that both it and Tupelo were now stuck in.

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As they put it, "At the bottom of the hole, a cement drainage tile was found, and the dog was about another 4 feet into and wedged into the cement tile."

First resnpoders standing around sinkhole after setting up light fixtures

Facebook | Estherville Police Department

Since this would turn out to be a more delicate rescue operation than they thought, the police department sought out additional help from the Estherville Fire Department.

However, it wasn't long before they realized that they'd end up with a lot more support than they expected.

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After they put in a call to the town's emergency management coordinator, police would receive help from the Estherville Electricians and Street department and the county's Secondary Roads Department.

Facebook | Estherville Police Department

And the outside help didn't stop there because as representative from the police department put it, "Dr. Arlen Omtevdt from the Estherville Veterinary Clinic and neighbors assisted in the efforts to dig the area around the tile to free the dog using shovels and a Ditchwitch."

And thanks to that inspiring display of community spirit and teamwork, Tupelo would be rescued just three hours after police first received the call.

police officers holding happy dog after recuing it from sinkhole

Facebook | Estherville Police Department

As the police wrote, "Tupelo was successfully removed from the tile at 6:24 am, in great condition and returned to his very happy owners."

And from this adorable photo, we can see that he was just as happy to be out of that situation as his family was to have him back home safe.

h/t: Facebook | Estherville Police Department