Rescue saves Arlington Heights dog that fell into sewer
A dog named Clyde had a ruff morning Thursday, but he's back with his family thanks to a rescue by Arlington Heights police and firefighters.
Clyde, a 2-year-old pit bull, fell into an open sewer in a backyard on the 200 block of South Forest Avenue at about 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Arlington Heights Fire Division Chief Dwayne Wood said.
Clyde's owner, Robin Bauer, said she wasn't quite awake yet when the pup took off after a squirrel - and then disappeared. When she walked out into the backyard, she discovered the dog was about 10 feet underground in a sewer that was damp but not filled with water.
"He was chasing a squirrel, and then he was gone," Bauer said.
Fire officials came up with a plan to use a tarp and ropes to raise the dog, and Bauer offered bacon as a treat to comfort Clyde while firefighters prepared him for the lift.
"We did a confined-space rescue where we lowered a rescuer down into the hole and hoisted the dog up," Wood said.
Bauer said she initially thought maybe Clyde's back legs were injured because he wasn't using them while underground.
"As soon as the tarp fell away, he jumped up and began running around licking the firefighters," she said.
Clyde greeted all his new friends with a wagging tail, Wood said. After a checkup at the veterinarian, the only injury found was a small cut, Bauer said.
Arlington Heights police Sgt. Stephanie Mack said these kind of calls are rare.
"The dog was fine, surprisingly," Mack said. "He was a little scared, but he was fine. He was a good dog."
Clyde's owner was happy to see him again and thankful for the help of the Arlington Heights police and fire officials.
"She was extremely relieved," Wood said. "We're just happy that we were able to get the dog freed."
It wasn't clear why the sewer was uncovered, officials said.
• Daily Herald staff writers Sara Hooker and James Kane contributed to this story.