Ever Had That Sinking Feeling. Feb 09

Barrie Tapp of 1800 animal cruelty investigations received a call about some burnt cattle in Cranbourne, after fires had swept across the South Gippsland Highway burning out a large area of paddocks and scrub. The Cattle got put down due to their severe burns 2 days later Barrie went back to the same area to check for any other animals, upon arriving he found a RSPCA inspector standing at the side of a quary looking bewildered as to how he was going to save a dog that was stuck in the quicksand. The only idea that the inspector could think of was to shoot it. Barrie was straight on the phone to Nigel.

Nigel soon arrived to inspect the situation and came up with an idea, he used 2 blow up jet skis to get himself over to the dog who was up to his neck and getting weaker. Nigel also had a rope tied to himself that was held on by his brother Paul in case he happened to full in. As Nigel got closer the dog managed to use all of his last energy to pull himself out on the bog.

The dog slowly walked over to Nigel to get help, he was tied up and placed into a large bag where he was able to be dragged to safety by the Nigel’s Animal Rescue team and the CFA waiting on the edge of the quicksand.

Team member Michelle with help from the CFA cleans mud from the dogs eyes and face. She also gives it a nice stiff cold drink after its distressing ordeal, the dog then went to the RSPCA to be checked for ID and a health check. After an search for the owners through newspapers etc he was not claimed, he was then found some new owners and from what we last heard is a happy boy and stays clear of large puddles of mud.