NEED TO KNOW
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Diesel, a 15-year-old pitbull, has been reunited with his family after being found in a storm drain
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The senior dog went missing on Friday, March 27, after sneaking out of a side gate of his family’s Norfolk, Va., home
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The pet was rescued by a local fire department a day later, after someone reported hearing a dog barking from the drain
A 15-year-old pit bull is back home after somehow getting stuck in a storm drain.
The senior dog, named Diesel, went missing from his Norfolk, Va., home on Friday, March 27, after strolling out of a side gate that had been accidentally left open. His worried family quickly went to the Norfolk Animal Care Center to report the dog as missing. A day later, a local fire department, Norfolk Fire-Rescue, discovered the pooch stuck in a storm drain, unable to get himself out.
“When his family saw he was gone, they immediately headed over to the Norfolk Animal Care Center, where they filed a lost report with staff. The next day, a citizen heard a dog barking in distress, so they called the Animal Protection Unit dispatch for assistance,” said Norfolk Animal Care Center in an Instagram post.
“APU searched high and low, and that’s when this story takes a turn. Diesel had somehow found himself INSIDE a small stormwater drain and [was] unable to get himself out. After a quick call to Norfolk Fire-Rescue engine 13, they were able to lift him out, and he was on his way to the Norfolk Animal Care Center,” the post continued.
Diesel the 15-year-old pit bull saved from storm drain in Norfolk, Va.
Credit: Norfolk Fire-Rescue/Instagram
Social media snapshots show Diesel peeking his head outside of the storm drain, and chronicle his rescue by officers. Another photo from the post shows Diesel posing with his family.
Diesel and an officer who assisted with his rescue him.
Credit: Norfolk Animal Care Center/Facebook
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When Diesel arrived at the shelter after the rescue, staff recognized the dog as the pit bull that had recently been reported missing by his pet parents.
“A phone call, another truck ride, and several tears later, Diesel is right back home in the loving arms of his family. Thanks to the teamwork between a citizen, dispatch, Animal Protection Unit, Norfolk Fire-Rescue, and the Norfolk Animal Care Center, a sweet (and maybe a little too curious) senior dog is back home and safe,” the rescue’s Instagram post continued.
It’s unclear how the dog ended up in the storm drain, but everyone is pleased to have the dog topside again.
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