NC: Seven Dogs Rescued from Rising Water near Woodlake

Seven Dogs Rescued from Rising Water near Woodlake

As of Saturday, June 8, 2013

In a joint rescue operation, members of Moore county EMS, Moore County Animal Control, Crain’s Creek Fire Department and Cypress Point Fire Department, saved seven Pit bulls from rising water this morning.

Al Carter, Director of Animal Operations in Moore County, said at least five of the dogs likely would have drowned if not for the actions of the responders.

"If we hadn't done what we did, when we did it, those five dogs already in the water would have surely perished," Carter said.

About 7:30 a.m., Animal Control Officer David Myrick, who was on call, was alerted that a rural dog lot, located on Riverview Drive, east of Woodlake, was under rapidly rising water.

When Myrick arrived, EMS and the fire departments were completing a two stage rope line across 200 feet of rapidly moving water.

Employing two boats, the officer and fire department volunteers made their way to the far side of the swollen stream where they found two dogs chained to the last bit of dry land and five more chained in the water, which was up to the shoulders on several.

“They were all scared and of varying temperaments”, said Myrick, making the rescue more difficult. The team had to cut the chains with bolt cutters, get the animals into crates and ferry them back, two at a time, using the tandem rope lines.

Carter said “it was a classic example of cross department cooperation” as the four entities worked seamlessly to bring about a successful conclusion after over four hours of effort.

“Between the fire ants, ticks, raw sewage and scared dogs, it was a difficult situation," Carter said, "but the team worked in a highly professional manner to get the dogs to safety."

Little River was expected to rise another two feet before cresting at midnight Saturday.

The dogs, which Carter described as 'healthy' will be kept at the Moore County Animal Center until it is safe to return them to their owner.



A pitbull stands in rising flood water caused by Friday's heavy rain. The dog was one of seven rescued Saturday east of Woodlake.

Interesting comments can be found at news link: Seven Dogs Rescued from Rising Water near Woodlake | The Pilot: Southern Pines, NC

Seven Dogs Rescued from Rising Water near Woodlake | The Pilot: Southern Pines, NC