Dog spooked by fireworks freed after being stuck under Riverside home for 2 days

Date:

by Tracy Bloom

A dog who bolted from her Riverside home after apparently being spooked by fireworks celebrating the Lakers’ championship was rescued after being trapped beneath the house for two days, officials said Wednesday.

The frightened senior Labrador fled Sunday night after fireworks exploded in the neighborhood a short time after the team’s title-clinching victory over the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA finals, according to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

Her family feared the dog, named Midnight, was long gone when they discovered she was missing.

But on Tuesday, the family heard her whimpering from underneath their home in the 3400 block of Franklin Avenue, where — unbeknownst to them — she had been stuck for two days, according to a news release from the department.

Midnight became jammed under a wood beam beneath the kitchen after leaping through a screen and nestling herself as far away from the opening as possible during the fireworks display.

“It was as if she had burrowed a spot for herself, but she had actually entrapped herself,” Animal Services Officer Michael Cox, who was called out to retrieve the pooch, said in the release. “That’s the magnitude of just how scared she was from the fireworks.” 

Cox was initially uncertain if he’d be able to fit through the small opening, but managed to get into the crawl space. Still, the dog was initially resistant to his help, using her front paws to hold on to a beam as Cox tried to free her.

At one point, a family member joined the officer in the crawl space to make Midnight feel comfortable. That individual managed to push the dog and help the officer pull her — “inch by inch” — to safety, the release stated.

“It took us a few minutes, and there was a lot of dirt kicked around,” Cox said. “Even with flashlights, the visibility was very low. But the good news is we were finally able to nudge her from her spot and she crawled out of the hole into the arms of her very relieved and happy family.”

The dog was not injured.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe to The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

Popular

More like this
Related

Student Talent Takes Center Stage at San Bernardino County Honor Concerts

More than 650 student musicians from throughout San Bernardino County were selected to showcase their musical talents during three separate honor concerts

Writers Corner: Motivation

Brad from Rancho Cucamonga asks me to explain motivation. That may appear to be a dumb question, but it isn't. I've been asked that question a number of times.

$783K Awarded to Support Urban Agriculture and Farmers via Inland Empire Resource Conservation District

This week, the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Farm to Fork announced $11.67 million in funding awards through their Urban Agriculture Program focused on urban and disadvantaged communities throughout the state.

Clergy Corner: Better Than $150,000.00?

 The Boston Marathon! What an amazing race! Back when I was in high school and spending a fair amount of time running track, my dad told me if I would prepare for the Boston Marathon and meet the qualifying time, he would sponsor me.