She had been missing for more than a week.
Three-Legged Dog Rescued From Collapsed Row House After Being Missing for a Week
After more than a week of searching, a missing three-legged Australian Cattle Dog named Lucky was finally found in an unexpected—and dangerous—place.
Colleen Bell, founder of GoodBoy Dog Recovery, spotted the pup walking down an alley near run-down row houses in Chester, Pennsylvania. Bell hoped Lucky would follow the scent of food into one of her humane traps. Instead, the dog vanished behind the abandoned buildings. Moments later, Bell heard frantic yelps.
Dog Trapped Inside Collapsed Row House
Investigating the noise, Bell peered through a basement window and saw Lucky deep in a pile of rubble. The dilapidated house had no floors and no back wall, making it easy for the dog to wander in—but nearly impossible for her to escape.
“It’s … such rough terrain,” Bell explained. “I can’t even believe she went down in there. But she climbed over all this trash and then just fell down into what was the basement.”
Bell worried about Lucky’s safety, especially since the young pup only had three legs. With no local animal control services and firefighters unable to enter the condemned building, Bell knew she and her team had to act fast.
A Creative Rescue Mission
Bell, who has been rescuing missing dogs for 12 years, quickly rallied help.
“I called my brother, my cousin and a friend of mine,” she said. “I went and got some plywood and some two-by-fours.”
Together, the group built a 24-foot wooden ramp and slid it into the basement window—the only safe way into the house. One team member wriggled inside while Lucky barked nervously from below.
At just 10 months old, Lucky was scared and hesitant, but Bell’s team worked carefully, using a makeshift pulley system to lift her out.
Lucky’s Happy Ending
Once safe in Bell’s car, Lucky’s fear melted away.
“She was a sweetheart,” Bell said. “She was just looking over at me. Her tail was wagging in the car. She was just so thrilled to be rescued.”
A microchip scan revealed Lucky’s family lived just a few miles away. They had adopted her from a local shelter and were heartbroken when she went missing. The reunion was filled with tail wags, kisses, and a giant smile from the grateful pup.
Thanks to persistence, teamwork, and some quick thinking, Lucky’s story went from terrifying to heartwarming—a true reminder of the resilience of rescue dogs and the dedication of those who help bring them home.
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