On January 7, 2022, firefighters responded to an emergency report. A house collapsed during a landslide in Magnolia, a neighborhood situated on top of elevated land in Seattle, USA. The said landslide caused the entire place to slide off its foundation, resulting in its collapse.
The homeowners, James, and Didi Fritts, were inside the house during the incident and trapped inside. Luckily, they managed to crawl to safety.
However, their two pet dogs weren’t as lucky. Lilly, who was one of them, died during the collapse. While the other dog, Sammy, a three-year-old black Labrador, was still inside and trapped in the rubble. According to the couple, Sammy was in the living room when they last saw him.
For six days, James and Didi returned to their old house, hoping to hear Sammy’s cry for help. Finally, they asked for rescue assistance, and the Seattle fire department came to the rescue.
David Cuerpo, the Seattle Fire Department spokesman, shared later that one of their rescue personnel heard Sammy’s cry when they arrived. To find the dog’s location, the rescue team used chainsaws to cut through the walls and flooring, working carefully to ensure that the process won’t cause further damage.
The rest of the family waited anxiously as the responders worked their way into the house. During those suspenseful hours, the family could reassure each other with their embrace.
Hours later, one of the rescue crews confirmed that he had finally found Sammy. Minutes later, he emerged from the window, carrying the three-year-old black Labrador. Everyone cried with joy as the man took Sammy down the ladder.
As soon as Didi got hold of Sammy, she embraced him tight, her tearful eyes expressing the words a dog owner would express when reuniting with someone you thought you had lost. Sammy, in return, wagged his tail in contentment as he rested comfortably on his owner’s arms.
It was impressive that Sammy, though emaciated from six days of no food and water, survived the ordeal. The family took him to the veterinarian for further evaluation to help him gain all the weight he had lost.
Sammy’s rescue story is just one of the many positive stories that remind us that dogs will always be family, and no one is left behind during difficult times.
Watch the suspense-filled video here:
Source: NBC News via YouTube