A Golden Retriever/Chow mix in Vestavia Hills, Alabama found herself stuck in a sewer pipe after escaping her backyard.
Lucky for Tiger Lily, the fire department came to her rescue.
Trapped in a Sewer Pipe
Tiger Lily’s dog mom, Kerri Wilson, arrived home to find the backyard gate open and her pup gone. When she went looking for Tiger Lily, she heard her barks echoing from the woods. Her initial suspicion was that Tiger Lily had become tangled in vines. However, she actually lodged herself within a storm drain she couldn’t escape from.
At 14, the poor pup couldn’t navigate her way back out. She also didn’t respond to attempts from family members to lure her out with treats. After four hours of involvement, the fire department safely returned Tiger Lily to her worried family.
Finding Lost Pets
For dog parents, losing our beloved canine companion is our worst nightmare. However, it’s not all that uncommon.
According to statistics, one-third of all dogs and cats in the United States go missing in their lifetimes. Unfortunately for kitties, dogs fare a better chance of returning home. Cats have a 74 percent chance of recovery while dogs have a 93 percent chance. Even if they return home, thinking of the trouble a lost dog can get themselves into is scary, although most of our runaway canine companions don’t have a story like Tiger Lily.
Tiger Lily is lucky to have been discovered so quickly. If lost pets become trapped or caught, they might not be able to navigate their way out by themselves. Time is of the essence if your pet runs away from home. It may be a good idea to make a kit for the off chance of your pet escaping. Keep a slip lead, favorite treats (preferably one your dog knows the sound of when opened), noisemaking toys, and anything else you think would be helpful in recovering your pet in an accessible location where they can be quickly grabbed. There are more avenues than ever for recovering a lost pet, thankfully. Keep your pet’s identification (tags, microchip) current, notify local shelters and rescues if your pet is lost, and take photos frequently so you have a current picture for reference in the event your pet goes missing.
