Dog rescued after three days in badger hole (From The Argus)

Dog rescued after three days in badger hole

11:30am Wednesday 19th October 2011 in News

A JACK Russell spent three days stuck in a badger hole.

Inquisitive pooch Sam got trapped in the sett near his home in the Gallops, Worthing, on Saturday.

But it took rescuers until yesterday afternoon to hear his tiny yelps ten feet below the surface and dig him out.

Animal rescuers, firefighters and neighbours tried calling Sam, whistling and offering biscuits – all to no avail.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service’s technical rescue unit used specialist listening equipment and cameras to locate Sam.

Eventually the Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service (Wadars) and the RSPCA were able to get a licence from Natural England to dig into the badger sett to free Sam.

The two-year-old dog was last night recovering from his ordeal after being reunited with his owners Julie Turner and Russell Barnes.

Mr Barnes said: “Julie let him have a little run about. He ran straight to the woods.

“When she went to call him back. He looked straight at her then ducked down the hole. She didn’t see him after that.”

Ms Turner and Mr Barnes spent all night trying to find Sam and on Monday morning called in Wadars.

Mr Barnes said: “They came up and started searching and using listening equipment and cameras, but unfortunately because badger sets are protected you’re not allowed to just dig them out, you need a special licence.

“We heard a little squeak from him first thing in the morning then nothing, so we couldn’t dig.”

Mr Barnes and two friends went back to the woods on Monday night to try to call Sam again and finally heard a bark. Yesterday morning animal rescue officer Vikki Golds returned to the scene and Sam was finally freed.

Mr Barnes said: “He had twisted around and couldn’t get out. When they got him out he was totally bewildered. He’s quite weak because he hasn’t eaten for three days, but he’ll recover in a few days.

“We’re so grateful to everyone, all the rescuers and our neighbours who did everything they could.”