A Texas dog named Astro is safely back home with his family after becoming trapped in a water-filled concrete hole in Chapel Hill. He was saved from the dangerous predicament by a man who heard him whimpering and a constable who helped pull him to safety.
Here's what to know
KLTV shared video that showed Smith County Precinct 4 Constable Josh Joplin and a man identified as Mr. Lusk using a lariat rope to lift Astro from the hole.
Joplin said Lusk was clearing a tree by a fence when barking and whimpering drew his attention. He traced the sounds to Astro, who was stuck in the hole, and Joplin and Lusk then used the rope to get him out.
Joplin said Astro had been reunited with his family, and in a Facebook post he said the dog had been "cold, scared, and weak," according to KLTV.
"Thank God for citizens who listen to cries for help," Joplin wrote.
Joplin said he took photos and videos during the rescue to document that the people saving Astro did not injure him, per KLTV.
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What's being done?
Smith County Animal Control will conduct a follow-up, Joplin wrote.
"No telling how long this boy had been in this hole," he said.
The adorable pup is now home safe with his loving family all because someone stepped in to help.
Where can I learn more?
Astro's rescue is one of countless stories about dogs in danger or dogs that help with dangerous work.
• In Malaysia, rescuers freed a stray dog trapped for weeks with plastic on its head.
• In an urban area, volunteers spotted a dog trapped in a plastic jug.
• In the U.K., volunteers cleaning woodland found litter trapping wild animals and sounded the alarm.
• With Rita Santos, former stray Hera became a conservation detection dog.
• In California, shelter dogs serve alongside firefighters in seismic rescues after wildfires.
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