Friday, Nov 26, 2010
http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/26/stories/2010112662540300.htm
CHENNAI: It was an unusual call at the fire control room here early on Thursday. A resident of Mehta Nagar in Aminjikarai informed the control room that some dogs were barking for hours from deep inside a well.
A rescue team rushed to the spot around 6.30 a.m. and found four dogs battling for life.
According to Station Fire Officer (Villivakkam) S. Wilson Rajkumar, rescuers found the dogs huddled together in the 15-foot well in the backyard of a house in Officer's Colony.
“The dogs were fighting on an iron mesh covering the well. Since the mesh was weak at the centre, it gave way under pressure.” Mr. Rajkumar said fire service personnel used a rope to pull out the dogs, one after the other.
“There were one female and three male dogs. It appeared that the dogs were in the water for at least four hours. They were huddled together taking support from a concrete slab on one side of the well. On seeing rescuers climb down the rope, the dogs knew help was under way and cooperated,” he said.
Director-General of Police and Director, Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services, R. Nataraj said fire service personnel were trained in rescuing animals in distress.
“Our rescue team is trained by the Forest Department in handling animals. We are getting many calls on snakes entering houses and offices. An intensive training on snake-catching is on the anvil,” he said.
