TEMPE, Ariz. --
A tiny and frightened puppy was rescued Thursday from an isolated drainage pipe in Tempe thanks to a nearby worker's curiosity and the efforts of the Tempe Fire Department.
Jeff Chruma, who works at the nearby Medtronics plant, said he had recently noticed a stray dog hanging out near the pipe. When he began to investigate, he said he heard the all-too familiar sounds of a tiny whimper.
"We have no idea how they got in there," Chruma said, "because there's no way a pregnant dog could get in that pipe."
Tempe firefighters used rescue equipment to climb over the side of an embankment to the drain opening. A firefighter spotted the puppy next to the body of one of its siblings.
After a lot of coaxing, the firefighter snatched the shaking pup and carried him to safety.
"They were not going to quit until they got him out of there, so hats off to them for the job they did," Chruma said of the firefighters' efforts. "Definitely a happy ending here."
After the puppy is examined by a veterinarian, he will be available for adoption. His rescuers named him Lucky.
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