This adventurous dog is lucky to be alive after getting itself trapped in a warren of underground tunnels.
After receiving a distress call, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Services managed to rescue Winston, the black cocker spaniel, that had been trapped underground.
When rescue teams arrived, shortly before midday, they discovered the poor pooch had been trapped underground for nearly three days.
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It is understood the dog had been on a walk in Coalville, North West Leicestershire, when the dog took off and darted into a badger's sett - a network of dens and tunnels where the animals reside.
Leicestershire Live reported the owner - known only as 'Helen' - revealed to emergency services she was walking her dog when he began to explore the sett, right before it caved in around the canine.
Unfortunately for the pooch and his distressed family, nothing could be done for 48 hours because badgers and their setts are protected by law.
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She told iHeart Radio that Winston had wandered off, and it was only after searching for him for more than half an hour that she realised her curious canine was trapped underground.
"Winston's a working dog, so it's not strange for him to be off the lead and sniffing at bushes. We'd gone off the tracks but five minutes later I turned around and realised he wasn't behind me," she said.
"I retraced my steps and looked for half an hour before going back to get my husband. Alex looked under the tree and saw the holes, so we realised it was a badger's den."
His distressed owner said they could hear him in the badger's set and their 'hearts just sank'.
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"We couldn't do anything," she said.
"The law said we had to wait in case Winston came out himself.
"When they assessed it the sett was active but no evidence of any badgers coming or going - but we still had to wait."
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An RSPCA officer had to be there for the rescue of Winston, but due to staffing issues they could not get to the location - a sickening wait for Winston and his family.
Firefighters and Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) officers managed to locate the pup after hearing out for its barking, informing them where to dig.
They were also assisted by specialist listening and tracking devices to help find the pooch.
Firefighters called in reinforcements to help with digging, which began shortly after 4pm and lasted for about an hour before they rescued the dog.
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Still in shock, the pup lay frozen until reunited with its beloved owner for belly rubs and cuddles.
Winston, aside from being hungry and in need of water, was freed from the sett unharmed.
"He is doing very well apart from being very weak," his owner said following the ordeal.
"He had a lovely bath and a well deserved sleep."
Last week, it was also reported that rescue workers in Michigan had pulled a dog to safety after the labradoodle became stranded on an ice block that began drifting into the Detroit River.
While walking with its owner, the dog broke free from its leash and ended up jumping into the cold river before a worker used a catchpole to lure the pup back to safety.
Wyandotte Police Department officers took to their Facebook page to write: “(Wyandotte Police Department officers), animal control and (Wyandotte firefighters) teamed up for a pretty sweet rescue Monday afternoon. A labradoodle had gotten away from its owner while on a walk and ended up jumping into the freezing cold Detroit River.”
“The poor pooch somehow managed to climb onto a chunk of ice but it was drifting away in the river while the dog was freezing. Our team was able to move the ice close to the riverbank and our FD snagged the dog around its neck with a ‘catchpole.’ The rescuer did this while standing on a slippery ladder that was submerged in the river while his coworkers held onto him via a rope. Truly an amazing and awesome rescue.”
Featured Image Credit: Mirror/AlamyTopics: News, Good News, Animals