UNITED STATES NEWS

Wichita fire crews stage dramatic dog rescue

Apr 13, 2012, 1:08 AM

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – Just as Wichita officials were holding a news conference Thursday to announce their efforts to save a dog had failed, a firefighter saw wet canine nostrils appear in a tiny hole in concrete.

It was the 100-pound mutt trapped in a culvert next to a drainage ditch.

The Wichita Eagle (
http://bit.ly/Hvl7j9) reported that the news conference broke up suddenly as the firefighter called for help. Crews already suited up in scuba gear leapt back into the water-filled ditch to search for Taz, and firefighters started up the concrete saws.

Once they cut a large enough hole, one of the scuba divers stuck a hand in to grab Taz and was promptly bit. But minutes later, the 6-year-old dog was free.

The emotional owner, John Huy, 79, promptly gave a news conference to thank everyone who helped save his dog, which he described as “part pit, part lab, and part I don’t know what.”

The drama started around 10:30 a.m. when Huy, a retired aviation engineer, took a walk in the rain with Taz. When the rain increased, Huy and Taz took cover under a bridge. Huy said the flashing lightning made Taz “fidgety,” and he let the dog off his leash. It was a mistake Huy later swore to 20 firefighters “I’ll never make again.”

Taz jumped into the water flowing under the bridge. When another bolt flashed in the sky, Taz scrambled under a ledge along the sidewalk under the overpass.

As the water rose, the ledge closed off, and Taz backed up, suddenly trapped in the small air pocket left to him.

With the water rising still higher, Huy and a bystander jumped into the water and tried to coax the terrified Taz from the air pocket. The men’s struggles prompted someone to call 911 and report that a car was submerged.

Fire crews didn’t hesitate to help the men after learning there was no car, and no human being to rescue. Capt. Michael Wells acknowledged that eight fire trucks, plus police directing traffic merely to rescue a dog, was indeed a significant effort.

“But we understand that pets are very, very important to people’s lives,” he said. “We’re glad to be here. It’s been a good day.”

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

United States News

Associated Press

Republicans threaten contempt proceedings if Hunter Biden refuses to appear for deposition

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are warning Hunter Biden that they will move to hold him in contempt of Congress if he doesn’t appear this month for a closed-door deposition, raising the stakes in the growing standoff over testimony from President Joe Biden’s son. Hunter Biden has insisted that he will only testify to the […]

4 minutes ago

Associated Press

Three North Carolina Marines were found dead in a car with unconnected exhaust pipes, autopsies show

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Three Marines found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning in a car outside a North Carolina gas station in July were in a vehicle with unconnected and rusted exhaust pipes, according to newly released autopsy findings. The Pender County Sheriff’s Office had already said months ago that autopsies performed on Camp Lejeune […]

24 minutes ago

Associated Press

Indiana’s appeals court hears arguments challenging abortion ban under a state religious freedom law

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s Court of Appeals questioned attorneys this week on exceptions to the state’s abortion ban in a case involving residents who are suing on grounds that it violates a state religious freedom law. The class action lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana on behalf of five anonymous residents […]

41 minutes ago

FILE - Former President Donald Trump speaks during a Commit to Caucus rally, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023...

Associated Press

Trump tells supporters, ‘Guard the vote.’ Here’s the phrase’s backstory and why it’s raising concern

Former President Donald Trump is urging supporters to “guard the vote” during next year’s election, a phrase that has set off alarm bells among pro-democracy advocates who say it signals permission to take extreme measures that could intimidate voters and threaten election workers. The phrase is a relatively novel one for Trump, though activists in […]

42 minutes ago

Associated Press

Michigan high court declines to immediately hear appeal of ruling allowing Trump on primary ballot

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court refused Wednesday to immediately hear an appeal of a lower court’s ruling that would allow former President Donald Trump’s name on the state’s presidential primary ballot. The state Supreme Court said the case should remain before the state court of appeals, and not immediately move to Michigan’s […]

1 hour ago

Associated Press

Cougar struck and killed near Minneapolis likely the one seen in home security video, expert says

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A cougar that was struck and killed on an interstate highway in suburban Minneapolis Wednesday was more than likely the same animal captured on home security video sauntering across a driveway earlier this week, a Minnesota wildlife official said. An SUV struck the male cougar before dawn Wednesday on Interstate 394 in […]

2 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

(KTAR News Graphic)...

KTAR launches online holiday auction benefitting Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley

KTAR is teaming up with The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley for a holiday auction benefitting thousands of Valley kids.

Follow @KTAR923...

The best ways to honor our heroes on Veterans Day and give back to the community

Veterans Day is fast approaching and there's no better way to support our veterans than to donate to the Military Assistance Mission.

...

SCHWARTZ LASER EYE CENTER

Key dates for Arizona sports fans to look forward to this fall

Fall brings new beginnings in different ways for Arizona’s professional sports teams like the Cardinals and Coyotes.

Wichita fire crews stage dramatic dog rescue