(L-R) Dog Warden Kathryn Hubery, Crew manager Dan Pullen, Dog Warden Steve Green, Firefighter Gerald Hodgson, and Cardiff Dogs Home Maria Bailie
A DOG who was trapped in a six-inch gap between a shed and a wall has been reunited with the fire crew who helped save his life.
Bracken, a 12-month-old lurcher, was featured on the Cardiffian last week having made a miraculous recovery from his terrible injuries.
Blue Watch from Cardiff Central Fire Station described him as “unrecognisable” from the last time they saw him.
Dan Pullen, Blue Watch crew manager, said: “He was covered in blood when I saw him last time. I actually thought he was a dark dog from the amount of blood on him – I wouldn’t recognise him at all from what he looks like today.”
The fire service had to prise Bracken out from between the solid wall and the shed he had got himself stuck between.
Bracken was found in Wentloog and is believed to be a stray, as the owners of the land where he was stuck did not claim ownership.
Kathryn Hubery, one of the dog wardens who found Bracken, said: “The gap where he was stuck got narrower at one end, he had gone in and got wedged in the gap. That’s why he has several pressure wounds that you can still see now. When we got there we were unable to get him out so we called the fire service.”
Cardiff Central responded quickly to the call on February 10.
“As soon as the warden told me that he could die any minute, that was it. We were all in there trying to open the gap to get Bracken out,” said Officer Pullen.
It is believed that Bracken was stuck for well over 24 hours and when the wardens arrived he was emaciated, borderline hypothermic and his blood sugar levels were dangerously low.
Bracken had become stuck in a small gap no bigger than 7 or 8 inches
The owners of the land were not keen to see their property damaged in removing him.
“We were threatened with being accused of trespassing. We offered to take everything out of their shed for them while we moved it and then put everything back in – but they weren’t having it. They were shouting and hurling abuse at us all the time.
“We just wanted to see the dog make it out okay. In the end, we just got the job done and got out of there quickly afterwards.”
Dealing with dogs is not something the Cardiff Central crew does on a regular basis.
“We have a team that helps out with animals based around Cardiff and the surroundings, but they tend to help out with bigger animals – mostly cattle. It’s not that often that we are called out by the dog wardens.”
After Bracken’s remarkable escape, he was taken to Summerhill vets in Newport to be treated.
His chances of survival looked slim but Bracken has confounded the vets, the dog wardens and the men who saved him to make a full recovery.
He stayed in Summerhill for three weeks before being deemed fit enough to move into the Cardiff Dogs Home.
He has now taken up residence as their office dog and is enchanting all the staff and anyone who gives him attention.
Despite being calm, affectionate and housetrained, Bracken is still looking for a new home.
- Anyone interested in rehoming a dog from the dogs home should call 02920 711243 or visit them on Penarth Road in Cardiff.
