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Pet owner gets an ‘early Christmas present’ from KCFD firemen
Topics: rescue, dog, Christmas, miracle, firemen, kcfd
Posted by editor Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:58:38 PST
Viewed 1231 times
0 responses 5 comments Kern County firemen from Station 12 were able to deliver an early Christmas present to Old West Ranch resident John Gruber when they rescued his 4-year-old border collie-mix from a caved-in culvert on Dec. 21 at approximately 8:30 a.m.

“He [Gruber] was on a rollercoaster ride,” said KCFD Captain Randy Kitt, describing the distraught pet owner’s emotional state throughout the 45 minute rescue operation.

The fire department was called when Gruber’s neighbor heard the dog’s cries after his car broke down in his driveway approximately an eighth of a mile from the Gruber residence. The dog, called “Chy,” short for Cheyenne, had been missing for two weeks. Gruber was both afraid and fighting disbelief that it could be the same dog he raised from a pup.

“He asked us to put the dog down, since he assumed the dog had been in there for two weeks. We told him that the dog is alive now, we could hear her squealing so we decided to go for the live rescue,” said Kitt.

According to Kit, the dog was trapped inside a culvert that was buried and had both ends clogged with debris. Rescue crews used the jaws of life to break up concrete and widen both ends of the culvert. Then they persuaded the dog to back up by using compressed air from a breathing bottle.

“We persuaded her to back up a few more inches where she could be grabbed by the tail and scooted out the backside, where she backed into the waiting arms of firefighter of Andy Franchere,” Kitt said.

Kitt said that Gruber had tears of joy in his eyes when a very skinny and dirty Chy came out wagging her tail, apparently very pleased to see daylight. According to Gruber, two weeks ago, Chy weighed 50 pounds. After her rescue, she weighed in at approximately 25 pounds.

Neighbor Brent Scheibel was contacted by the property owner’s association and was asked to assist with the rescue. Seeing that the firemen had the rescue under control, Scheibel was able to provide video and still photos of the rescue, serving as the very first video webcast of a local news story by the Tehachapi News. See www.tehachapinews.com for video coverage.

“Oh my god, thank you guys! Merry Christmas everybody!” Gruber can be heard on the video, thanking the firemen.  

Mojave’s engine 314 was also called for additional rescue equipment.

“We thought were going to have to cut off the top of the culvert, but there was just too much frozen dirt, so that was plan A,” said Kitt, indicating that Plan B, consisting of carefully digging and blowing compressed air, was ultimately successful.

“My Christmas came a bit early. That fire department is so good,” said an elated Gruber. He reported that although Chy is half her normal size, and very dehydrated, she doesn’t appear to have any injuries.

“She's out laying in the sun right now,” said Gruber, attributing her survival to nothing short of a Christmas “miracle.”

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Comment From: Sparks

I have tears rolling down my face. Great story Tehachapi News and many thanks to the county firemen. Comment From: dweaver3

Great story! The Tehachapi News is on it - so high-tech! Comment From: medicone

Thank you! Comment From: ZU

This is such a great story. I am so happy those wonderful fire fighters rescued Chey, and that Chey is unharmed and loved by Mr. Gruber. Comment From: crazy4animals

It's nice to know that "Chy" is happily back with her owner. Our Fire Department is the best! What a terrific job they due on a daily basis.