NEWS: Dog Day Afternoon

By Mark McLaughlin
Edinburgh Evening News
July 31, 2008

A DOG-OWNER'S ill-fated attempt to rescue her pet from the Water of Leith when it fell 20 feet from Dean Path resulted in a full-scale fire and rescue response yesterday.

The unnamed woman was out for a walk across the river at around lunchtime yesterday when the dog apparently fell from the path down to the river below.

It is the latest in a recent spate of incidents where crews have been called to rescue distressed animals, including a dog stranded down a badger sett and a newborn kitten rescued by a hoover from a kitchen pipe.

In the latest incident yesterday, the distressed woman watched as the dog fought against the current with two broken legs, and found itself high and dry on an island in the middle of the river. The woman ran down a staircase by the side of Dean Bridge, leading to the waterside footpath, and risked her own life in the strong current to join the dog on the island.

However, she discovered that she was unable to make it back on her own and fire crews were called.

A fire crew from Crewe Toll initially attended, and was soon followed by line rescue crews from Tollcross and Newcraighall, and a standby water rescue crew from Marionville. Crews were able to string a line across the river and tie it to a tree on the island, whereupon fire crews escorted the woman and the stricken animal across the river.

The dog was taken to a nearby vet in a car driven by the woman's sister.

Group Manager David Mackie, of Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue, said the woman's rescue attempt could have landed her in serious trouble.

He said: "Crossing a river at any time could put you in danger. Obviously this time the woman managed to get across despite the strong current, and couldn't find her way back.

"Clearly this wasn't a safe way to cross the river.

"The currents were particularly strong at this time of day, and the fire crew was able to escort her back. While a number of fire officers were deployed, we believe that this was an appropriate response to the difficulties this woman was facing."

One eyewitness said: "It was quite an elaborate pet rescue just to save a dog.

"I'm amazed it wasn't swept away after the flash floods last night but it's obviously a clever dog."

Last month firefighters had to suck out a day-old kitten who had become trapped in a kitchen pipe in Dunbar with a vacuum cleaner with a sock tied round the end.

And days later they were again to the rescue when a dog found itself stuck in a badger hole in Davidson's Mains.