Dog saved from bottom of 15ft concrete shaft
Badger is thought to be less than a year old.
A dog has been rescued after he was found struggling to keep his head above water at the bottom of a 15ft-deep concrete shaft in County Durham.
The grey and white crossbreed, who was at first mistaken for a badger, is now in the care of a local veterinary practice while attempts are made to find his owner.
Because of the initial mistake about his species, he has been named Badger.
He was discovered in the shaft on wasteland known as Phoenix Sidings in Stockton-on-Tees on Friday, 12 April. A dog walker spotted the lid to the shaft was partially open. Looking down it, he could see an animal which resembled a badger trapped in the water at the bottom, so he called the RSPCA.
Inspectors Steph Baines and Krissy Raine attended the call out. They used the zoom feature on a video to get a closer look at the animal and discovered that the badger was actually a dog. As the shaft was narrow and it was unknown how deep the water was, the inspectors called the Cleveland Fire Brigade for assistance.
A firefighter who was trained in water rescue entered the shaft in a flood suit. He comforted the dog and placed a fire hose around Badger’s chest and under his hips to create a make-shift sling. Once he was secure, the dog was slowly lifted out.
Inspector Raine said: “Badger was utterly exhausted when we finally reached him; if the man hadn’t found him when he did and we didn’t get him out so quickly, I have no doubt that he sadly would have drowned.
“He was up to his neck and could barely keep his head above the water. He was giving up in front of our eyes and it was a real race against time.”
After his ordeal in the shaft, Badger was underweight and couldn’t stand. It is thought he may have been stuck in the shaft for a number of days. His skin and the inside of his mouth had been blistered by the contaminated water, which has meant that he has needed to be tube fed.
The RSPCA is now looking to find Badger’s owner. As he was found wearing a leather collar and a black leather lead, it is believed he may have run off during a walk. He is microchipped, but the chip isn’t registered.
Inspector Baines said: “Badger is lucky to be alive and he’s really lovely; a friendly, gentle giant. There must be someone out there who is missing him and wondering where he’s gone.
“Please contact our appeal line on 0300 123 8018 if you know where he may have come from. We’d love to reunite him with his family.”
Image © RSPCA
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
