No one expected that to happen.
Last week in Dallas, Texas, a dog named Violet had a frightening accident while walking near her family’s home. She was exploring a vacant lot next door when she accidentally stepped into a deep hole left behind by unfinished construction work.
The opening was small and partly hidden by thick grass, making it easy to miss. Before Violet knew what was happening, she had fallen inside.
Her family quickly realized they couldn’t get her out on their own. Terrified and unsure what to do, they called the local fire department for help.
When Dallas Fire Rescue arrived, they had only been told that an animal was trapped in a hole on an abandoned property. At first, they couldn’t see much. A few people were gathered around a small opening in the ground, and it wasn’t until the firefighters looked inside that they understood the situation.
Only the top of Violet’s head was visible.
Then her family told them something surprising: Violet was a 200-pound mastiff.
The firefighters knew right away that this rescue would not be simple. The hole was only about 12 inches wide at the top, and Violet was stuck in a deep cistern with about a foot of dirty water at the bottom.
The team began by widening the opening so they could reach her more safely. As they worked, they realized they would need more help to lift such a large dog from such a narrow space. A 10-person technical rescue team was called in for support.
Through it all, Violet stayed remarkably calm. Her family remained nearby, which helped comfort her, and rescuers were relieved to find that she was gentle and cooperative.
One rescuer climbed down into the cistern and carefully secured a strap beneath Violet’s legs. After about 30 minutes of work, the firefighters used the strap to help lift her upward. By raising her back legs, they gave Violet enough support to crawl out of the hole.
She was very ready to be free.
Once Violet was safely back above ground, her family was overcome with relief. Thanks to the firefighters’ patience, teamwork and quick response, the massive but sweet mastiff made it out safely.
Back home, Violet was finally able to rest and recover, surrounded by the family who loves her.