When Jay B. Neal was out walking in Clewiston, Florida, he heard some strange noises. He could hear a dog whining and the pounding of a wagging tail. His bewilderment intensified when he realized there was no dog nearby. He noticed a terrified Pit Bull trapped in a storm drain after following the sound.
It’s unknown how the two-year-old dog got down there, but she didn’t have a lot of options for getting out. She had most likely pursued a rodent down the sewer and became stuck. Fortunately, Neal called for assistance, which most likely saved the puppy’s life.
Neal alerted Clewiston animal control authorities shortly after spotting the dog, and they went to the site. They couldn’t pull the top of the drain off to save the dog since it was cemented shut. As a result, animal control had to enlist the help of firefighters. Neal explained, “I kept hearing this dog whining and couldn’t figure out where it was coming from.”
The Clewiston firefighters successfully cracked the cement around the grate and removed it. Despite this, the dog remained unmoved. The pup didn’t have enough room to turn around in the pipe, so she froze in place even though there was an opening for her to leave. She was too terrified to accept assistance, but animal control didn’t give up.
“She was frightened. In general, I’m afraid. Whimpering. Officer Jaylen Rodriguez of Clewiston Animal Control remarked, “I’m crying.”
Officer Rodriguez and her colleague, William Jones, worked together to extract the frightened dog from the pipe. Rodriguez reached inside with both hands and used treats to win the dog’s trust. It took nearly a half-hour for the dog to relent and allow Rodriguez to drag her to safety.
The dog glowed after she was clear of the storm drain. She waggled her tail wildly as if to express gratitude to her courageous rescuers. They named her Stormy, which is an appropriate name given the circumstances. She was no longer fearful of humans and seeing other dogs made her happy.
Stormy fled the ordeal unscathed, but she could have been locked there for days before Neal discovered her. Clewiston Animal Services is now caring for her. If no one claims her, she will eventually be put up for adoption. Whatever happens, Stormy is glad that so many compassionate people came together to save her life.