Dog Rescued Can He Survive Two Days Underground?

Dog rescued after spending almost two days underground, six-year-old Parson Russell Terrier Cello was safely recovered from a badger sett in Hoveringham, Nottinghamshire. The rescue operation of Cello involved coordinated efforts of volunteers, firefighters, police, and wildlife officials in what seemed like a frightening experience.

How the Dog Rescued Story Began

Cello was on a walk with his owner, Stephen Smith, on 17 August. Smith had given both Cello and another dog freedom to explore a field. While the other dog finally came back, Cello went missing.

Smith started looking and was assisted by the other dog, which brought him to a badger sett. When he waited near it, Smith could hear Cello barking from underneath the ground, indicating that Cello was still alive but stuck underground.

Why The Rescue Needed Special Permission

Diggers could not dig immediately since badgers are a protected species. Any disturbance of the badger sett without proper licensing can bring serious trouble for anyone.

Natural England was the agency that needed to give permission to the rescue team to do excavation safely. Some volunteers from Notts Lost Dogs were working with Newark Fire and Rescue Service, the police, and Natural England on the rescue planning.

Another thing that needed to be done was to ensure that digging does not bring any risk to Cello by collapsing the tunnels.

How Rescuers Found Cello

The search team used an inspection camera to find Cello, who was finally located at around 60 cm beneath the ground.

To avoid cave-ins, the rescuers did not dig down vertically; rather, they dug at an angle.

• The cello was trapped for about 48 hours.
• It was found about 60 cm below ground.
• Inspection equipment helped to locate it.
• Volunteers and firefighters carried out the excavation carefully.
• Permits from Natural England were granted for the operation.

One moment, the entire tunnel collapsed. The next moment, the team used the camera to locate Cello and then cautiously widened the hole and brought him out.

Cello Finally Returns Home

Dehydrated, tired, and hungry, Cello was recovering after his rescue. While he rested for 24 hours, he quickly went back to his usual active self. His eyes were hurting since he spent two days underground in dark soil.

Kim Jefcott from Notts Lost Dogs said that they feared for Cello’s safety, but they were determined to get him back.

For Smith, it became evident just how much he loved his dog. Having been through two days of stress, seeing Cello saved was a huge weight off his mind.

Cello is now back to enjoying his walks, bringing a happy ending to this dog rescued story.

References Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rn7v86jvxo