A German shepherd named Indy who spent hours at the bottom of a 30- to 50-foot hole in a South Bay backyard Wednesday afternoon was pulled to safety by firefighters.
The call to firefighters was made at around 2:30 p.m. Indy’s owner said the dog is a veteran of a sheriff’s department in Arizona.
A large group of firefighters from the Bonita and San Miguel fire departments congregated at the scene with a ladder from a hook-and-ladder truck extended above them. Around 4:45 p.m., firefighters utilized a pulley affixed to the extended ladder, then dropped a rope down the hole and appeared to be attempting to use that to lasso the dog around its neck and bring it back up to the yard. Thirty minutes later, their efforts had been fruitless, and Indy was still marooned underground.
Apparently, the firefighters are prevented from going down the hole due to OSHA regulations, and they wouldn’t let Indy’s owner, Mark Pugh, harness up and go after him either.
“They wouldn’t let me put on a harness and go get him, so … [I’m a military veteran] I’ve done more stuff than that,” he said, waiting anxiously as rescuers worked to save Indy.
Firefighters had to worry about possible injuries to Indy, plus possible injuries to their crew if the hole were to cave in, with recent rains in December and January increasing the threat of the latter.
“You couldn’t put any personnel down into that situation. You couldn’t put anybody down there. The ground was too unstable, there was no way to shore it up,” firefighter Ken Gilden said.
Rescue efforts were also complicated by the fact that the hole didn’t go straight down, and the fact that Indy had to look up at firefighters in order for them to loop their rope around his neck. Also worrisome: Firefighters were working against the darkness. By 6 p.m., night had descended.
>> WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS FOR >>> WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS FOR YOU OUT OF THE SOUTH BAY WHERE FIREFIGHTERS ARE WORKING TO GET A RETIRED SHERIFF\u2019S DOG OUT OF A 30-FOOT WELL. >> NBC 7\u2019S DAVE SUMMERS IS THERE >> NBC 7\u2019S DAVE SUMMERS IS THERE AND WE UNDERSTAND THE DOG WAS MAKING SOME NOISES AT THE BOTTOM MAKING SOME NOISES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL, SO THAT\u2019S ENCOURAGING. >> Reporter: YEAH, IT IS ENCOURAGING, MARK AND MONICA. THE DOG IS ALIVE. THE DOG SEEMS TO MAY HAVE INJURED ITS HIPS, BUT THE DOG IS TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH RESCUERS, NOT BARKING BUT JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THAT LOW-PITCHED YELPING IN A WAY. LOW-PITCHED YELPING IN A WAY. HE\u2019S SEATED, WE\u2019RE TOLD AS WELL. THIS IS HUGELY DIFFICULT RESCUE. THIS IS HUGELY DIFFICULT RESCUE. THE DOG\u2019S NAME OF COURSE INDY, APPROPRIATELY NAMED. HE\u2019S AT THE BOTTOM OF A HOLE, AND THAT HOLE — THAT WELL THERE IS ABOUT 30 TO 50 FEET DEEP. IT\u2019S ABOUT 4 FEET WIDE AT THE TOP. WHAT MAKES THIS RESCUE SO DIFFICULT, MARK AND MONICA, IS THIS. THEY\u2019RE TAKING NYLON ROPE, THEY CREATED A LOOP AT THE END AND CREATED A LOOP AT THE END AND THEY\u2019RE TRYING TO LOWER IT DOWN IN THERE AND GET THE LOOP AROUND THE DOG\u2019S NECK. THE DOG\u2019S NECK. IT — THIS IS A HAIL MARY PASS, FRANKLY. THE FACT IS THEY CAN\u2019T SEND ANYBODY DOWN THERE. IF THEY DO — IF THEY WERE TO SEND A FIREFIGHTER DOWN THERE IT WOULD BE AGAINST OSHA REGULATIONS. AND IF THINGS WENT BAD, IT COULD BE REALLY BAD BECAUSE WE HAD ALL THAT RAIN. THERE\u2019S A VERY STRONG THERE\u2019S A VERY STRONG POSSIBILITY OF A CAVE IN, SO THEY\u2019RE OPERATING VERY CAREFULLY AROUND THE HOLE, AND THEY\u2019RE AROUND THE HOLE, AND THEY\u2019RE CALLING INDY AND TRYING TO GET HIM TO LOOK UP. BECAUSE IF THEY CAN GET HIM TO LOOK UP, THEY CAN GET THAT LOOP AROUND HIS NECK. NOW, YOU WOULD THINK, OH, MY GOSH, THAT WOULD STRANGLE THE DOG. WELL, IT VERY WELL MIGHT BUT IF THEY CAN GET THE DOG UP QUICKLY WE\u2019RE TOLD BY HUMANE OFFICERS, THAT THEY CAN CERTAINLY REVIVE THE DOG IF THAT\u2019S NECESSARY. THE DOG IF THAT\u2019S NECESSARY. AND IT\u2019S RISKY, BUT NOT AS RISKY AS ACTUALLY PUTTING SOMEBODY DOWN IN THERE. SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY\u2019RE SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY\u2019RE WORKING IT, RIGHT? SO THEY HAVE THIS — THE EXTENSION LADDER OVER THE TOP OF THE HOLE. THEY HAVE A PULLEY SYSTEM WHERE THEY TAKE THE NILEN ROPE AND DROP IT DOWN IN THERE. THE OTHER DIFFICULT THING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR RESCUE THAT HOLE ISN\u2019T 4 FEET WIDE AND STRAIGHT DOWN. IT\u2019S GOT AN S-CURVE IN IT AND COMES DOWN. GETTING IT AROUND THOSE GETTING IT AROUND THOSE OBSTACLES IS NOT EASY, EITHER. AND OF COURSE WHERE IT\u2019S A RACE AGAINST TIME BECAUSE IT\u2019S ONLY GOING TO BE DAYLIGHT FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES OR SO. OF COURSE THERE\u2019S PLENTY OF LIGHT BUT IT JUST ADDS A DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY TO THESE FIREFIGHTERS, AND THE HUMANE OFFICERS ARE HOPING THEY DON\u2019T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. IF THEY CAN DO IT IN THIS ONE IF THEY CAN DO IT IN THIS ONE MOMENT THIS WOULD REALLY BE FANTASTIC AND JUST AN INCREDIBLE FANTASTIC AND JUST AN INCREDIBLE RESCUE. THERE\u2019S CERTAINLY PLENTY OF PEOPLE HERE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE, CHULA VISTA HUMANE SOCIETY HERE, AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF HELP. IT\u2019S JUST A MATTER OF DOING THAT, YOU KNOW, VERY DIFFICULT — GETTING THAT VERY DIFFICULT LOOP AROUND THE DOG\u2019S NECK AND ACTUALLY BRINGING HIM UP. IF THAT DOESN\u2019T WORK, THERE\u2019S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A NEW STRATEGY, AND THEY HAVEN\u2019T REALLY TALKED ABOUT THAT OR REALLY TALKED ABOUT THAT OR GOTTEN THAT FAR JUST YET. THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY — I WANT TO SAY THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY A YEAR AGO, HE TOLD ME, AND NEVER KNEW THERE WAS A HOLE THERE. IT\u2019S NOT CLEAR TO ANYBODY WHETHER IT\u2019S ACTUALLY A WATER WELL OR AN ATTEMPTED WATER WELL. WELL OR AN ATTEMPTED WATER WELL. YOU KNOW, LOGIC WOULD DICTATE YOU WOULDN\u2019T HAVE A WELL ON TOP OF A HILL, RIGHT? YOU\u2019D HAVE IT DOWN THERE IN THE LOWER PART OF THE PROPERTY. THAT\u2019S WHERE THE WATER WOULD GO. THAT\u2019S WHERE THE WATER WOULD GO. SO IT\u2019S HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS. WE KNOW THERE WAS A CEMENT PAD AROUND THE HOLE SO IT WAS USED FOR SOMETHING OR GOING TO BE USED FOR SOMETHING. BUT THE OWNER HAS THREE KIDS AND A BULL DOG OF HIS OWN AND HAS NEVER SEEN THIS HOLE ON HIS PROPERTY HE TELLS ME. PROPERTY HE TELLS ME. THIS IS A PROPERTY HE RENTS OUT TO DOG OWNERS TO COME AND RUN THEIR DOG. HE\u2019S HAD 120 DOGS HERE ALREADY HE\u2019S HAD 120 DOGS HERE ALREADY SINCE NOVEMBER, HE\u2019S TOLD ME, AND THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT ABSOLUTELY NEVER CAME UP. IT\u2019S A ROUGH DAY ALL AROUND FOR THE DOG OWNER, FOR THE HOMEOWNER, FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED. WE\u2019RE JUST HOPING FOR A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. REPORTING LIVE IN ACTUALLY VESTA, I\u2019M DAVE SUMMERS, NBC 7. >> SUCH A DIFFICULT SITUATION >> SUCH A DIFFICULT SITUATION OUT THERE, AND OUR HEART GOES OUT TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS OPERATION WHO WANTS TO SEE THIS DOG BE SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED. THEY\u2019RE WORKING AGAINST THE CLOCK AS SUNSET IS UPON US. CLOCK AS SUNSET IS UPON US. DO YOU KNOW — YOU MENTIONED THERE WERE SOME S-CURVES TO THAT WELL. DO THEY HAVE EYES ON THE DOG, OR HOW ARE THEY HAVING EYES ON HIM SO THEY CAN GET THAT LOOP AROUND HIM SO THEY CAN PULL HIM OUT? HIM SO THEY CAN PULL HIM OUT? >> SURE, THEY HAVE EYES ON THE DOG. THE OWNER OF THE ANIMAL WHO WAS HERE RUNNING THE DOG WHEN HE SLIPPED INTO THE HOLE WAS ABLE TO SEE HIM. LIKE I SAID HE — THEY COULD SEE HIM WELL ENOUGH IN THIS LIGHT TO SEE THAT HE MAY HAVE INJURED THE HIPS, THAT THE DOG IS SEATED ON HIS BACKSIDE, AND HIS HEAD IS DOWN. BUT, AGAIN, THE DOG SEEMS TO BE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH RESCUERS. SO THEY APPARENTLY HAVE A GOOD SO THEY APPARENTLY HAVE A GOOD VIEW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE\u2019RE DEALING WITH A LOOSE NYLON ROPE TO GET DOWN IN THERE, AND THAT\u2019S TO GET DOWN IN THERE, AND THAT\u2019S NOT GOING TO BE EASY. NOT GOING TO BE EASY. >> IF THE DOG IS INJURED YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY. WHAT\u2019S ENCOURAGING ABOUT THIS AS WELL YOU THINK OF ALL THIS RAIN AND THANK GOODNESS THAT HOLE IS AND THANK GOODNESS THAT HOLE IS NOT FILLED WATER, THAT THEY CAN SEE THE DOG AND ALL THE REST OF THAT. SO THERE\u2019S THAT. THAT\u2019S THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SO THEY\u2019RE PRETTY WELL EQUIPPED WITH ALL OF THAT. WITH ALL OF THAT. IT\u2019S ALSO WE UNDERSTAND A RETIRED POLICE DOG, WHICH MEANS IT\u2019S ALSO WELL TRAINED, SO MAYBE IT\u2019S ALSO WELL TRAINED, SO MAYBE THEY CAN SORT OF AT LEAST GET IT TO STAY CALM AND ALL THE REST OF THAT. >> POOR LITTLE INDY. >> POOR LITTLE INDY. >> YEAH, POOR INDY IS RIGHT. >> INDY\u2019S HAD PLENTY OF SITUATIONS THAT WERE STRESSFUL. SITUATIONS THAT WERE STRESSFUL. THE DOG — LAW ENFORCEMENT K-9 ARE ALL TESTED UNDER STRESS. VERY HOPEFUL HE\u2019S OKAY DOWN VERY HOPEFUL HE\u2019S OKAY DOWN THERE, AND IT SEEMS SO AT LEAST SO FAR. >> WE\u2019RE ALL NOW COMPLETELY >> WE\u2019RE ALL NOW COMPLETELY INVESTED IN ALL THIS AND HOPING FOR A GOOD OUTCOME.”,”video_id”:”2168244803671_747″,”video_length”:”378445″,”video_provider”:”mpx”,”short_video_excerpt”:””,”mpx_download_pid_mobile_low”:”kWriwoa7vGV1″,”pid_streaming_web_mobile_low”:””,”mpx_download_pid_mobile_standard”:”M3_HjZSMfGbS”,”pid_streaming_mobile_standard”:”Po_XjtDu6O23″,”media_pid”:”7M0DrzTYxq7w”,”alleypack_schedule_unpublish”:””,”feed_remote_id”:”mpx_2168244803671″,”feed_thumbnail_url”:””}” data-livestream=”false” data-title=”First-Responders Called After Dog Falls Down Deep Hole in South Bay” data-vidcid=”1:13:3157395″ data-vidurl=”https://www.nbcsandiego.com/videos/first-responders-called-after-dog-falls-down-well-in-south-bay/3157395/” data-islead=”false” data-catnames=”{“681115″:”Videos”}” data-tagnames=”{}” data-customdata=”{“ContentPartner”:”None”,”Source”:”WEBFM”,”SyndicationAllowed”:”true”,”mSNVideoCategories”:”MSN Video v4 Connector-most watched news”,”mSNVideoContentSupplierID”:”NBC_Local”,”mSNVideoCountry”:”us”,”subtitle”:”nosubtitle”,”uploadedByTeam”:”1″,”youtubeChannel”:”None”,”sentiment”:”Positive”}” data-autoplay=”false” data-cplay=”true”>
Vince Carillo, the owner of the property since about 18 months ago, told NBC 7 he was unaware of the hole in his yard, which has a concrete pad around it. Scary, considering he has three small children and a dog of his own. He said he rents out part of his large property for dog owners who want to give their pups a space to run.
He said before Wednesday’s incident, he’d booked around 120 different dog owners on his lot.
When firefighters finally secured Indy on the pulley, excitement at the scene began to ramp up. Rescuers began hoisting Indy and had him above the surface within seconds.
Indy, 9, came up with a few cuts and was covered in mud, but was alive and alert as he was loaded onto a canvas sheet and carried away to be taken to a veterinarian.
Immediately after the rescue, Pugh told NBC 7 his pup seemed to be doing OK. He said he’s had Indy for about four years, and also has Indy’s half-sister. The siblings were playing in the yard before Indy fell down the hole.
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